CITY OF LONG BEACH, CA
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 and Long Beach Municipal Code Section 2.69.060 empowers the City Council to proclaim the existence of a local emergency to protect and preserve public welfare when the City of Long Beach (“City”) is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity; and WHEREAS, in the past several years, California has experienced increasingly severe and destructive storms, including atmospheric river events that have caused widespread flooding, mud and debris flows, landslides, high winds, power outages, road and highway closures, evacuation orders, damage to homes and critical infrastructure, and disruption of essential services; and
WHEREAS, climate change is intensifying these weather and hydrologic extremes in California, contributing to increasingly severe swings between drought and flooding, and heightening the risks that extreme storms pose to communities, infrastructure, natural resources, and the economy; and
WHEREAS, California is entering the 2026–2027 wet season amid the ongoing development of a strong and likely historic El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean; and WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, in its August 13, 2026, diagnostic report, found that the El Niño event is strengthening, with a greater than 90 percent chance of a very strong event during Northern Hemisphere fall and winter of 2026–2027; and WHEREAS, the Climate Prediction Center projected a 69 percent chance that the event will reach historic strength during the October through December 2026 season, defined as a three-month Relative Oceanic Niño Index, and exceeding the strength of all prior El Niño events in the historical record beginning in 1950; and WHEREAS, elevated baseline coastal water levels, combined with high tides, large waves, high surf, and coastal storms, can increase risks of coastal flooding, beach erosion, bluff erosion, transportation disruption, and damage to public and private infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, California has already begun to experience effects attributed to this El Niño event, including unusual precipitation and significant coastal flooding; and WHEREAS, historical experience demonstrates that very strong El Niño events do not produce uniform statewide outcomes, but can be associated with exceptionally wet and destructive winter conditions in California; and
WHEREAS, strong El Niño conditions may increase the potential for repeated periods of heavy rainfall, strong winds, high surf, large waves, coastal flooding, erosion, flash flooding, landslides, debris flow, transportation disruptions, power outages, and other hazards throughout California; and
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, California’s recent experience with atmospheric rivers, debris flows following wildfires, flash flooding, coastal erosion, inundation, and damage to transportation and flood-control infrastructure demonstrates the importance of procuring and positioning resources, clearing waterways, and taking additional actions to prepare before severe storms arrive; and
WHEREAS, the demonstrated potential for a very strong or historic-strength El Niño event to cause elevated coastal water levels and high-impact storms in California warrants early, coordinated, and targeted preparedness actions to protect Californians, critical infrastructure, agricultural lands, natural resources, and the State’s economy; and WHEREAS, on September 21, 2026, based on the foregoing, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency related to the anticipated impacts of the 2026- 2027 El Niño season and directed State agencies to take early actions to protect vulnerable communities, critical infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities; and WHEREAS, the City of Long Beach is particularly vulnerable to coastal and stormrelated hazards due to its extensive coastline, beaches, waterways, marinas, low-lying areas, and proximity to Alamitos Bay, the Los Angeles River, and other flood-prone areas; and
WHEREAS, the City has already experienced significant coastal impacts and damage to private and public property due to high surf from the recent Hurricane Marie, and it is expected that the El Niño season may being storm conditions similar to, or more severe than, those experienced over the 2026 Labor Day weekend; and WHERAS, elevated baseline coastal water levels, combined with high tides, large waves, high surf, and coastal storms, may increase the risk of coastal flooding, beach and bluff erosion, damage to public and private infrastructure, transportation disruptions, and impacts to businesses, residents, and visitors throughout the City; and WHEREAS, significant rainfall may overwhelm stormwater drainage systems, increase flows and debris within waterways, create localized flooding, damage streets and other public infrastructure, and disrupt the City's ability to provide essential services; and
WHEREAS, the City of Long Beach contains critical infrastructure and facilities that are essential to the health, safety, mobility, and economic well-being of the community, including transportation facilities, water and wastewater infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, public safety facilities, emergency communications systems, the Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, and other public and privately operated critical infrastructure; and
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, the City has a responsibility to take proactive measures to protect life and property and maintain essential services before, during, and after significant storm events, including preparing and positioning personnel, equipment, supplies, emergency response resources, and other materials in advance of anticipated impacts; and WHEREAS, recent storm event, including, but not limited to, the impacts from Hurricane Marie, have demonstrated the importance of taking early action to clear waterways and drainage systems, protect critical infrastructure, stage emergency equipment and supplies, coordinate response resources, and establish operational capabilities before severe weather arrives; and
WHEREAS, the potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season may exceed the City's normal day-to-day operational capabilities and may require extraordinary preparedness measures, expedited procurement, additional personnel and contractual resources, and enhanced coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, regional agencies, Los Angeles County, the State of California, federal agencies, utility providers, transportation agencies, and other public and private partners; and WHEREAS, residents and communities that are vulnerable to flooding, coastal hazards, power outages, transportation disruptions, or interruptions to essential services may experience disproportionate impacts from severe winter weather, including seniors, persons with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, residents with limited transportation access, and individuals and households with limited resources; and WHEREAS, the City has initiated and continues to undertake preparedness activities for the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season, including enhanced interdepartmental coordination, weather monitoring, infrastructure preparedness, resource identification, emergency communications planning, and coordination with local, regional, and State partners; and
WHEREAS, early preparation and pre-positioning of resources will enhance the City's ability to protect life and property, maintain essential services, mitigate storm-related impacts, and rapidly respond to changing conditions; and WHEREAS, the ability to rapidly procure equipment, supplies, materials, services, and other resources; enter into agreements and contracts; mobilize personnel; and coordinate with other governmental and private entities is necessary to ensure the City is adequately prepared to respond to the potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to working collaboratively with local, regional, county, State, federal, nonprofit, utility, transportation, and private-sector partners to identify risks, share information, coordinate resources, and implement measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season; and
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, the threatened impacts associated with the 2026–2027 El Niño and winter storm season constitute conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City of Long Beach and that these conditions may be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and may require extraordinary measures and the coordinated assistance and resources of other governmental jurisdictions and agencies; and
WHEREAS, immediate and proactive preparedness actions are necessary to reduce the potential impacts of severe weather, protect life and property, preserve critical infrastructure and essential services, and enhance the City's ability to respond effectively to emergency conditions; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630 empowers the “governing body of a city, county, or city and county, or . . . an official designated by ordinance” to proclaim a local emergency due to the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the City of Long Beach caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, or other conditions which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager of the City of Long Beach (“City Manager”) as the Director of Civil Defense may proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity pursuant to Chapter 2.69 of the Long Beach Municipal Code; and
WHERAS, Chapter 2.69 of the Long Beach Municipal Code further provides that any emergency declared by the Director of Civil Defense will not remain in effect for more than seven (7) days, unless the City Council ratifies the existence of the local emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency exists and is threatened to continue throughout the City of Long Beach as a result of the impacts of Hurricane Marie and the developing 2026-2027 El Niño event and winter storm season; and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that during the existence of this local emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of the City shall be those prescribed by State law, the Long Beach Municipal Code, including Chapters 2.69 and 2.85, applicable City resolutions, policies, and emergency plans; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that all City departments and agencies are authorized and directed to take such actions, measures, and steps as may be necessary and appropriate to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the
PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
BY CITY MANAGER
potential impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño event and winter storm season, consistent with applicable law and City policies; and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that City departments are directed to coordinate with appropriate local, regional, County, State, federal, nonprofit, utility, transportation, and private-sector partners to identify and obtain resources, coordinate preparedness and mitigation activities, share information, and support the protection of life, property, critical infrastructure, and essential City services; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that City departments shall take all appropriate actions to identify, procure, stage, and pre-position equipment, supplies, materials, services, personnel, and other resources necessary to prepare for and respond to the potential impacts of the developing 2026–2027 El Niño event and winter storm season, consistent with the emergency purchasing and contracting authorities established by applicable law and the Long Beach Municipal Code; and BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that the City Manager, in the capacity of Director of Civil Defense/Director of Emergency Services, and other authorized City officials shall have and may exercise the emergency powers provided by State law and the Long Beach Municipal Code to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community and to facilitate the City's preparedness for and response to the threatened emergency; and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that the City shall continue to monitor weather, hydrologic, coastal, and other conditions and shall adjust preparedness and operational measures as conditions warrant; and
BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED, that this proclamation shall remain in effect until terminated by the City Council at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant, subject to the review requirements of applicable State law and the Long Beach Municipal Code.
Dated:09/21/2026 By:
Tom Modica, City Manager
City of Long Beach