Coastal cities across Orange County, including San Clemente and Dana Point, are actively preparing for what experts describe as a "Super El Niño" season, with expectations of high tides and heavy rain extending through March of next year. This proactive stance follows recent tropical storms and a hurricane that have already caused coastal erosion and damaged homes in the region. Rain is forecast for the upcoming weekend, including on Halloween this Saturday.
In San Clemente, City Council members voted unanimously at their Oct. 20 meeting to continue an emergency declaration originally made for the effects of Hurricane Marie in September, and to declare a new emergency following Tropical Storm Rachel earlier this month. San Clemente Community Development Director Adam Atamian stated these declarations are crucial, allowing staff to continue clearing debris, monitoring storms and tides, and working to place berms and sandbags in impacted areas. Atamian confirmed that city departments and executive staff have been monitoring weather and tidal conditions, implementing protective measures such as sand berms and sandbagging, assessing infrastructure damage, coordinating with regional agencies, and documenting emergency response and recovery costs.
Adding to the city's challenges, San Clemente also experienced a 570-acre wildfire last week. In the period between the fire and the recent storms, city crews worked to ensure drains were clear and placed sandbags around the burn scar area. This measure was taken to prevent debris from entering drainage systems and to mitigate potential mudslides. Atamian emphasized the importance of this coordinated emergency management across city departments, noting that ongoing work would strengthen preparedness for the upcoming El Niño season.
Further south, Dana Point officials also declared a state of emergency following Tropical Storm Rachel and continued an emergency declaration after Hurricane Marie. These declarations, however, are specifically localized along Beach Road in the Capo Bay district, not citywide. According to a staff report, this emergency status enables the city to acquire necessary resources without a competitive bidding process and allows for the implementation of a curfew if deemed necessary. The area has seen significant impact, with nearly two dozen homes receiving red or yellow tags following heavy rain. As of Oct. 19, City Clerk Shayna Sharke reported 10 red tags and 13 yellow tags, with two homes already demolished and one more scheduled. Sharke also informed residents they can collect 10 filled sandbags from the city to help protect their homes, and that crews have been working to remove debris and maintain drains. Sharke affirmed the city's commitment to preparing for potential emergencies from El Niño and other named coastal storms. Notably, Dana Point is not constructing sand berms, as many of its beaches and coastal properties, such as Doheny State Beach, are owned by the county or state.
Inland, Yorba Linda is also taking extensive measures. At the Oct. 20 Yorba Linda City Council meeting, Principal Civil Engineer Regina Hu outlined the city's preparations, which include assessing potential high-risk locations, identifying flood-prone areas, preparing emergency resources, and coordinating with the Orange County Fire Authority and Yorba Linda Water District. Erosion control measures have been implemented, such as staging over 20,000 sandbags along trails and slopes, clearing sites susceptible to rain damage, and increasing the removal, pruning, and trimming of trees and shrubbery. Hu advised residents to prepare by staying informed through county and city alert systems, knowing evacuation routes, planning ahead with supplies, cleaning drainage areas around properties, and discussing safety with family members. Flyers are being distributed to septic tank homeowners to provide preventative measures. Residents can obtain sandbags on a first-come, first-serve basis at local fire stations 53, 10, and 32, according to the presentation. Hu cautioned residents to avoid flooded roadways and to be vigilant for debris, potential hillside issues, and downed power lines or utilities after the rain. City Manager Peter Grant confirmed that the city’s public works crews maintain gutters and storm drains every rainy season. Hu also noted that the city installed more drainage raisers and catch basins after the 2008 Freeway Complex Fire, aiming to reduce debris collection and simplify cleanup efforts.
Officials across Orange County are generally advising residents to secure outdoor furniture, take down umbrellas, and inspect their roofs as the weather system continues to develop.
