Preparing for El Niño

By now you've heard that California is in a State of Emergency as we anticipate historic winter weather and rainfall. An El Niño Town Hall with LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath on September 28, 2026 gave a lot of information on how the County is preparing and what we can do to prepare to get through the storm season, which officially begins October 15, 2026. Thank you to LAEPF for the summary of this meeting and the wording for much of this valuable information.

• Flood insurance - most homeowners policies do not cover damage from flood natural disasters. Now may be a good time to contact your agent about whether flood insurance will be a good choice for this year, as many policies do not start coverage for 30 days.

  
  

• Is your septic system working properly? Many septic systems stop functioning optimally once the ground becomes saturated. We all have more fun things to spend time and money on, but you may want to act now if you notice things are already draining slower or you know it's time for some maintenance. Setting yourself up for success can be as simple as watching what you put down drains and time limits on showers to checking the water levels on seepage pits. Read more about this at our Septic Blog here: https://www.oldagoura.org/post/septic-systems-101-how-they-work-common-problems-and-easy-maintenance-tips

  
  

• The City asked us to advise residents to keep trash cans off the streets during heavy rains. Other property-preparation advice include clearing drains and gutters, keeping a safe path for water around the home, securing outdoor objects before storms, addressing roof or drainage problems, and making sure runoff does not enter the house. Assess how water moves around your home, including where water ponds, whether slopes drain toward the property, proximity to a channel, creek, debris basin, or low-lying road, and whether the area has flooded before. A history of no flooding does not guarantee future safety. Residents concerned about property-specific risk, FEMA flood-zone status, or a vulnerable location can call LA County Public Works 1-800-933-0930. The number is for preparedness and engineering guidance—not for reporting an emergency during an event. Call 911 for emergencies.

  
  

• Free sand and sandbags are available next to Fire Station 89 at 29575 Canwood St. They try to provide shovels and buckets to help you with filling the bags, but recommend you bring your own shovel and 5 gallon bucket in case their resources are not available. Note: Firefighters will not fill the sandbags for you.

  
  

• Sign up for emergency alerts with the city at: https://www.agourahillscity.gov/government/emergency.php or with LA County at alert.lacounty.gov or protect.genasys.com and also, know what the alert terminology means:

  • Warning: Dangerous conditions are occurring, imminent, or about to happen; take

    protective action immediately. The appropriate action depends on the hazard—for

    example, moving to a higher floor during flooding or debris flow.

  • Watch: Conditions are favorable for dangerous weather; use the time for last-

    minute preparations, and consider leaving early if uncomfortable with the situation.

  • Advisory: Hazardous weather is occurring or imminent but is generally less severe;

    remain alert and exercise caution. Flood advisories commonly indicate minor

    roadway flooding.

  • Flood versus flash-flood alerts: Flood alerts generally concern longer-duration or

    river-basin flooding; flash-flood warnings address intense rain over a short period

    that creates an immediate threat to life and property.

    
    

• KNOW YOUR ZONE: the emergency alert systems assign codes to neighborhoods and issue alerts using these codes. Most of Old Agoura is zone AGO-C304, and one part of Cheseboro is CSB-U024.

  
  

  

And as with all disaster preparedness, have a Go-Bag ready and a plan with your family about meeting points and evacuation spots away from his area.

Thanks for reading this FLOOD of information! Let's hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!