Sonoma County has declared a local emergency ahead of a winter season forecast to bring above-average rainfall, giving officials an early start on staffing and training for possible flooding. The county is preparing for heavier-than-average rain from December through March. The National Weather Service has put the likelihood of this being the strongest El Niño in more than 70 years at 70%, according to the county’s announcement as reported Tuesday, Oct. 6. Preparations include community outreach, with particular attention to people living in mobile homes near the lower Russian River, an area vulnerable to flooding. County crews also plan to continue clearing drainage systems and repairing roads. The proclamation comes before the season’s first winter storm and follows a statewide emergency declaration by Gov. Gavin Newsom about two weeks earlier. Newsom asked state environmental protection and natural resources agencies to submit preparedness recommendations by Oct. 16. The county’s early planning is intended to build readiness before heavy rain arrives, particularly for residents in flood-prone communities.