Governor Gavin Newsome | Twitter Website
As Northern California faces the approach of an atmospheric river, Governor Gavin Newsom has taken measures to safeguard communities by deploying resources and personnel across the region. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), along with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), are actively working to ensure public safety.
Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “We’re pre-deploying significant resources and thousands of personnel to protect the safety of our California communities during this significant weather event. Californians should take precautions now as we anticipate a few rounds of storms in the coming days.”
The National Weather Service predicts that this prolonged atmospheric river will bring heavy rain to Northern and Central California, extending through the Pacific Northwest. Mountain areas such as the Cascades and Northern Rockies can expect snow into next week. Potential risks include power outages, flooding in small streams and low-lying areas, and mudslides on roadways.
In response, Cal OES is deploying equipment and personnel for swift water and flood response across ten counties: El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne. This includes six specialized Swift Water Rescue teams alongside local government fire engines and staff.
Governor Newsom also highlighted ongoing monitoring efforts by Cal OES regarding weather impacts on vulnerable regions like burn scar areas prone to mudslides. Additionally, state agencies are coordinating with federal partners through entities like the State-Federal Flood Operations Center.
Efforts to mitigate flood risks include river forecasts conducted by DWR engineers in collaboration with hydrologists from the California-Nevada River Forecast Center. The Department of Water Resources has strategically positioned flood fight materials throughout affected regions.
Furthermore, CDPH's Medical Health Coordination Center remains active at an enhanced watch level to address public health needs during the storm. Meanwhile, CDSS is reaching out to local partners to support vulnerable communities potentially impacted by adverse weather conditions.
In anticipation of increased water flows from upcoming storms, Governor Newsom signed an executive order facilitating groundwater recharge efforts aimed at enhancing California's water supply. This action builds on previous initiatives following strong winter storms in 2023.
Despite recent above-average water years replenishing reservoirs in 2023 and 2024, multi-year droughts continue affecting water supplies across communities reliant on agriculture and natural resources. Current climate models suggest a potential reduction in California's water supply by up to 10% by 2040 due to changing weather patterns.
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