Local
San José tracks flood-prone areas as forecasters warn of powerful El Niño
San José is monitoring dozens of historic flood sites and coordinating emergency plans as forecasters put the chance of a historic El Niño from October through December at 83%. The city says infrastructure investments have improved readiness, while the 2017 Coyote Creek disaster remains a stark reminder of the risks.
SAN JOSÉ — City crews are watching dozens of locations with a history of flooding and reviewing emergency response plans as forecasters warn that a strengthening El Niño could bring a very wet winter to California.
Mayor Matt Mahan said San José has improved coordination with the Santa Clara Valley Water District since the 2017 Coyote Creek flood, which displaced about 14,000 people and caused roughly $100 million in damage. The city was sharply criticized for its emergency readiness after that disaster and gave itself a failing grade in preparedness.
“We feel we’re prepared,” Mahan said Thursday. He pointed to investments in infrastructure and technology, closer coordination with Valley Water and efforts to help residents prepare for extreme weather.
The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center said earlier this month that the El Niño pattern was intensifying. It put the odds of a historic-strength event between October and December at 83%, and said the event could be stronger than any recorded since 1950.
El Niño can contribute to heavy rain and flooding, as well as mudslides and power outages. San José’s Transportation Department has held a storm coordination meeting to review emergency procedures. The city says public-safety measures have also been upgraded since voters approved Measure T in 2018.
Mahan said the measure helped fund expanded water-catchment basins, improvements to the emergency operations center and 911 system, and roadway upgrades. He said voters’ support for public infrastructure has put the city in a better position than in past storms.
Recent heavy rains, including atmospheric-river events, have caused flooding and downed trees in the area. But the impacts have been much smaller than those of the 2017 Coyote Creek flood. Residents sued afterward, arguing they had not received adequate warning and that the dam involved in the flooding had not been properly maintained. The case was settled.
The city’s current preparations include sites that have flooded before, while also aiming to reduce risk across San José. The City Council is expected to receive an update on the locations considered most at risk in the coming weeks.
Valley Water has completed more than 8,000 feet of flood walls along Coyote Creek and recently received a $100 million contract for the next phase of flood-protection work, Mahan said. The investments come as the city and water agency prepare for a season whose severity remains uncertain.