Forecasters put the odds of a very strong El Niño this winter above 90%. This is how to ready your home and your family before the first big storm hits.
If you've lived through a Long Beach winter, you know our weather can turn quickly, and this year the forecasters are unusually confident about what's coming. NOAA is calling for a greater than 90% chance of avery strong El Niño through this fall and winter, an event that could rank among the strongest on record.
For a city built along the coast, with low-lying neighborhoods and storm channels feeding into the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, that means more rain, higher tides, and a real chance of flooding in the months ahead.
What I've learned in 20-plus years here is that the homeowners who come through a stormy winter in the best shape are almost always the ones who prepared before the first system arrived. You don't need to do everything at once.
A few focused steps now will protect both your home and your peace of mind.
1. Start where the water goes. Most storm damage begins with water that has nowhere to drain. Clear your gutters and downspouts, make sure the ground slopes water away from your foundation, and check that nearby storm drains aren't clogged with leaves or debris. If you have large trees, trim any weak or overhanging branches before the wind finds them first.
2. Check the roof before the rain checks it for you. A small, cheap repair in October is a lot less painful than a leaking ceiling in January. Look for missing or lifted shingles, worn flashing around vents and chimneys, and any soft or stained spots on the ceilings inside. If you can't get up there safely, a quick professional inspection is money well spent.
"The homeowners who come through a stormy winter in the best shape are the ones who prepared before the first drop fell."
3. Take flooding seriously, especially near the coast. Our Peninsula and shoreline neighborhoods can see high tides and swell on top of heavy rain, and even inland homes sit near flood-prone channels.
Know whether your property falls in a flood zone, keep a few sandbags on hand if you're in a lower-lying area, and look closely atyour building's insurance and reserves if you own a condo. One important note: a standard homeowners policy usually doesn't cover flood damage, and a separate flood policy typically takes about 30 days to take effect, so don't wait until the clouds roll in.
4. Ready your family, not just your house. Put together a simple emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, phone chargers, any medications, and copies of important documents. Talk through a plan with everyone in your household, and sign up for the city's emergency alerts so you're never caught off guard. A little preparation here goes a long way toward keeping everyone calm when the power flickers.
None of this has to be overwhelming, and you don't have to sort it out alone. As someone who has helped Long Beach homeowners protect their biggest investmentin our coastal community since 2003, I'm always happy to point you to trusted local resources or talk through what makes sense for your specific home.
If you have questions about preparing your home, or you're thinking about buying or selling before winter really sets in, I'd love to help. Call or text me at 562-316-2915, email me at [email protected], or visit theelmerteam.com.
