The City of Salinas announced on Tuesday, Sept. 29, a threatened local emergency declaration as the City prepares for possible severe weather associated with anticipated El Niño storms, including heavy rain, flooding, power outages and road closures.
Mayor Dennis Donohue stressed that the move is intended to help the City prepare and not alarm residents. “This is about preparedness, not panic,” he said, describing the declaration as a way to coordinate resources and respond quickly if conditions worsen.
“We cannot control the weather, but we can control how we are prepared for it,” Donohue added.
He urged households to clear gutters and drains, check roofs for leaks, secure outdoor items and gather essentials such as flashlights, batteries, medications, food and water. Plus he suggested residents should also know how to receive official emergency information and check on neighbors who may need extra help.
City Manager René Mendez said City departments are working together to identify vulnerabilities, review emergency plans and establish communication procedures. “Preparedness requires coordination,” he said. He emphasized that the City is also working with county, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits, schools, hospitals and community organizations.
“Public works crews are surveying creeks, rivers, drainage systems and other infrastructure,” Mendez added.
Mendez also discussed plans to protect essential services. The City has worked on contingency plans for diverting wastewater to Monterey One Water if the industrial wastewater treatment facility is threatened.
Drones are being used to inspect floodways, while outreach is beginning with unhoused residents to help connect them with shelter before severe weather arrives, according to Fire Chief Sam Klemek.
Klemek said City facilities are being prepared as potential evacuation points and regional shelters. The City also plans to coordinate emergency information with the county and work with school districts and community groups to reach families and residents who may be harder to contact.
A community preparedness event is planned for mid-October, according to Mendez.
“Our responsibility is not simply to respond to an emergency. Our responsibility is to anticipate it, and that's why we're taking these steps now,” Donohue said. “I also want our residents to know that preparedness is a partnership. The City will do its part, and we are asking every household in Salinas to do its part as well.”
For more information visit, Salinas.gov/News/Storm-Prep-Home