A flooded street in Folsom (Sacramento County) during the January 2023 winter storms. 
California is investing in infrastructure and coordinating with local agencies to prepare for more extreme flooding and save lives
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – After two consecutive years with major flood events across the state, DWR is using California Flood Preparedness Week, which runs from October 19 through October 26, to encourage all Californians to prepare for flood season.
With California just experiencing one of the hottest summers on record, it might be hard to think about dangerous, extreme flooding. But a warmer atmosphere can also hold more moisture, increasing the power of atmospheric river storms that hit the state and cause widespread flooding. Research increasingly shows that California’s climate will become hotter and drier, but the precipitation the state does receive will arrive in more powerful storms that can lead to bigger and more frequent flood flows.
“Preparing for both flooding and drought conditions is our new normal,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “As climate change makes intense storm events more likely, California must be ready by continuing our investments in flood infrastructure, advancing the science and tools to forecast storms, and encourage all Californians to be prepared.”
In preparation for the new water year, DWR and partner agencies have focused on efforts to make California more climate resilient and continuing state investments in flood infrastructure. This month marks several major milestones for flood projects across the state:
- California has dedicated $560 million over the last two state budgets to support flood response and projects to protect communities from future flooding, including the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project, which will increase the level of flood protection for the communities of Watsonville and Pajaro, both of which were severely impacted by flooding in 2023.
- DWR is in the final stages of completing the Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project, a $280 million project that will complement the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Sacramento Wier Expansion project to reduce flood risk for 780,000 people in the Sacramento region.
- Later this week, DWR will join local, state and federal partners to celebrate the completion of the Smith Canal Gate Project, a $94 million project that will reduce flood risk for 24,000 homes in central Stockton.
Projects like these represent DWR’s commitment to reducing flood risk for disadvantaged communities in the face of increased flood threats due to climate change.
“California has always been prone to major flooding, but we know those challenges will only increase in the future,” said Laura Hollender, Deputy Director of Flood Management and Dam Safety. “Flood risk reduction projects and preparedness efforts are reducing flood risk for our communities, but climate change is also increasing the intensity of our largest storms. It is critical that all Californians are aware of their risk and enter the flood season prepared.”
More than seven million California residents are at risk of flooding, and many don’t realize it. Flooding can occur throughout the state, from rural to urban areas, in valley and desert communities, in mountain regions, and along the coast. Every California county has received a flood-related emergency declaration in the past 20 years. Flooding can also happen at any time of year and can even occur during drought years.
Communities that are downslope of recent wildfires are also especially prone to flash floods and debris slides, with landscapes impacted by wildfires taking up to five years to recover. To prepare for flooding, all Californians should follow three basic steps:
- Be aware of your risk – know whether your home is downslope of a burn area or in a floodplain; pay attention to weather forecasts; listen to local authorities.
- Be prepared – always have an emergency evacuation kit ready; be prepared to evacuate early; have a plan for where you will go in an emergency and what to do with your pets.
- Take action – subscribe to your local emergency providers to get updated information. Visit the National Weather Service webpage to get updated weather information for your community. If local authorities issue an evacuation order, do not delay, follow local guidelines for evacuation and never attempt to drive through a flooded roadway.
To prepare for this flood season, DWR is working with tribal, federal, state, and local partners to protect communities and lives. The State-Federal Flood Operations Center has pre-positioned flood fight materials at 68 locations across the state, including over 4 million sandbags and other flood fighting material. DWR has provided 65 flood fight training courses to local emergency response agencies and is coordinating pre-season emergency response meetings with county offices of emergency services across the state.
For more information on finding your flood risk, visit https://myhazards.caloes.ca.gov/
For information on obtaining flood insurance, visit https://www.floodsmart.gov/
For information on how you can prepare your household for flood emergencies, visit https://www.ready.gov/kit
Contact:
Jason Ince, Information Officer, Department of Water Resources
(916) 820-8138 | media@water.ca.gov