El Niño Storm Preparation
Inter-Departmental Plan
October 6, 2026
El Niño Storm – Background & City Objective
PRE-STORM PREPARATION
• Lessons from the 2024 floods: underscore the need for early preparation and coordinated action.
• Winter 2026–27 planning is underway: across City departments to strengthen readiness before significant storms occur.
• Pre-storm priorities: reduce flood impacts, prepare City infrastructure and resources, and help residents take action before rainfall.
• Response priorities: protect life and property, maintain essential services, and coordinate an effective Citywide response.
• Recovery priorities: rapidly assess damage, restore services, manage debris, and pursue eligible disaster reimbursement.
• City Objective: Stay Informed. Be Prepared. Stay Safe.
Emergency Management
PRE-STORM PREPARATION
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Staff Training
• EOC Grant Funded Enhancements
• Sandbags Availability
• Disaster Debris Management Plan
• Shelter Readiness
• Team Rubicon/County CERT Training Opportunities
• Metro Zone Partners – Preparedness and Coordination Meetings
POST-STORM RESPONSE
• Damage Assessment and Reimbursement Process
Engineering & Public Works
October 6, 2026
THE CITY'S STORMWATER SYSTEM
• 855 STORM DRAIN BOXES / CATCH BASINS
• 19 MILES OF CHANNELS (6 MILES FLOOD
ZONES)
• OVER 40 CROSS GUTTERS – 1,700 FEET
• 2 STORM DRAIN PUMP STATIONS
Engineering & Public Works
October 6, 2026
PRE-STORM PREPARATION
• Education and outreach – Engineering team sending letters to all properties within flood hazard zones per FEMA maps, providing information to PIO distribution
• "Storm Prep Event" – inter-departmental coordination, planning support, procuring sand/bags • CIPs and Developments – managing City projects and inspecting private projects for storm readiness and compliance
• Equipment and materials – advance purchase and/or preparation of tools, equipment and supplies anticipated to be needed for response and cleanup
• Facilities division is ensuring City buildings are in good condition (envelope, roofs/gutters, drains, entryways, windows) and ready for rain events (sand bags, tarps, door mats) • Parks crew focused on identifying and trimming or removing trees as needed and where potential hazards are evident, groundskeeping and clearing athletic fields Engineering & Public Works
October 6, 2026
PRE-STORM PREPARATION (continued)
• Inspection, maintenance, cleaning and repairs – of City infrastructure including channels, culverts, inlets, gutters, and stormwater pipes
▪ Weekly, on-going priority since August for Streets & Wastewater team
POST-STORM RESPONSE
• Clean-up – runoff silt and debris in streets & channels, remove downed trees ▪ Activate staff, contractors and partners for "all hands" approach • Emergency Repairs – to City buildings and other facilities and infrastructure, focused on stabilizing for function and safety
• Permanent Repairs – begins with assessment, design and construction process can take up to 9 to 18 months depending on scope
Community Development
PRE-STORM PREPARATION
• Routine Culvert Inspections: Weekly proactive checks of drainage channels / low-lying areas for encampments and flood hazards.
• Coordinated Debris Cleanups: Partner with EPW & NCPD to clear blockages and trash so storm runoff can drain freely.
• Early Severe-Weather Outreach: Mobilize field teams ahead of major storms to warn individuals in flood-prone areas of flash-flood dangers.
• Shelter Outreach & Placement: Coordinate with regional shelter providers to identify open beds and facilitate placement and transportation where available.
POST-STORM RESPONSE
• Follow-Up Safety Sweeps: Re-check channels immediately after storms to ensure vulnerable individuals are safe and to report new debris or blockages.
October 6, 2026
Housing Authority
October 6, 2026
Support Outreach and Cleanup Efforts
•Provide outreach and cleanup activities in flood-prone communities
•Prioritize vulnerable populations and special needs
residents
•Coordinate with mobilehome park owners and managers
•Recruit and organize volunteer groups
•Partner with SDSU SAGE faculty and students to
support community engagement and cleanup efforts
Leverage Funding
Leverage grant funds:
•Flood Awareness Campaign
•Clean-ups
•Workforce development programs
•Sandbagging
•Support services & recovery resources
Partnership & Recovery Coordination
Engage with San Diego Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (“SD VOAD”) to coordinate recovery resources and services
•Support community relief and recovery planning efforts •Connect residents to behavioral health and case
management
•Facilitate case management and community-based
assistance
•Help disaster-impacted households access critical recovery resources
Inter-Municipal Workshop/Sessions
Invite working-level staff from different cities to review plans/agreements and what we learned from the 2024 floods.
Housing Authority
October 6, 2026
Piggyback on Agreements
Piggyback on existing contracts previously bid and awarded by another public entity for motels/hotels and wrap-around service providers to eliminate the duplicate Request for Proposal (RFP) process, save admin costs, and maximize our scarce resources and funding.
Prepare Relocation Plans
Update/review relocation plans with key field and admin staff:
Field Staff
•Code Enforcement
•Homeless
•Fire
•Police
Administrative Staff:
•Risk Manager
•City Attorney’s Office
•Finance
Fire
1.Flood and Swiftwater Readiness
2.Strengthen Incident Management Planning
3.Pre Plan threatened areas throughout National City and Lincoln Acres
4. Determine areas that may experience Debris Flow or Landslides
5. Develop a Plan for Increasing Staffing
6. Expand Community Risk Reduction Through Education
7. Develop Forecast-Based Trigger Points
October 6, 2026
Police
Preparation:
• Work in collaboration with Public Works in clearing out tunnels and encampments • Work with Code Enforcement and HOME team to raise awareness within our unhoused population of the risks.
October 6, 2026
Police
During a major incident:
•Establish a unified command with the fire department, and other departments to provide the necessary resources.
•The police department will increase staffing for the event •Shift from normal policing to emergency response and public safety •Traffic control in known flooded routes
•Protect evacuated areas
•Maintaining adequate policing for other emergencies and calls for service in the community. •Utilize our upgraded dispatch systems to provide up to date messaging to our community.
October 6, 2026
Public Information
• Use key messaging to educate the public through social media • Share practical resources including checklists, action steps, safety tips, etc. • Show how the City is preparing through videos, photos and updates highlighting PW, Fire, etc.
• Use consistent key messaging to emphasize preparation and storm safety (paid ads if necessary)
▪ National City: Be Storm Ready
▪ Stay informed. Be prepared. Stay safe.
▪ Preparedness is a shared responsibility: Together, we can help National City be storm ready.
October 6, 2026
Public Information
October 6, 2026
• Create a centralized hub on the City
website: nationalcityca.gov/bestormready
▪ Provide information including background and
potential impacts, maintain site with timely and
consistent information
▪ Include resources and contacts, including City
services, emergency information and links to
regional and community partners
(AlertSanDiego, FEMA, SDG&E Outage Map,
National Weather Service, etc.)
▪ Offer materials, including graphics, checklists
and downloadable/printable handouts
Public Information
October 6, 2026
• Engage and prepare residents through City-sponsored events • Capitalize at City events by providing information regarding the storm and preparation (Fire Open House, Community Clean-Up events, City Manager First-Friday Coffee) • Host a storm-preparedness event to proactively provide information and sandbags to residents • Consider a community workshop to educate the public about potential impacts, provide resources and explain the City's response efforts
• Activate communication reach via community partners
• Provide local partners with ready-to-share materials for their networks and audiences ▪ Including social media graphics, ready to post captions, and flyers (Mile of Cars, SWC, Chamber of Commerce, etc.)
▪ Use digital billboards adjacent to freeways (MOC)
• Utilize County and State resources (LISTOS, 211, FEMA, etc.) Next Steps October 6, 2026