City Rushes $610K In Palisades Repairs Ahead Of El Niño Rains

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 Wednesday to transfer nearly $610,000 into a new account to support emergency repairs in Pacific Palisades ahead of expected El Niño rainfall.

Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents Pacific Palisades, introduced a motion in October requesting additional funds to address a segment of Posetano Road.

In February, rains saturated a hillside above the road, and have led to a slope failure. An existing cement stairway had also crumbled, and dirt and debris were at risk of falling onto the roadway. Park's motion seeks removal of the remaining portion of concrete staircase near 17570 Posetano Road.

Los Angeles is already preparing emergency response teams and inspecting and reinforcing vulnerable sections of the city and burn areas, with a priority placed on hillside areas.

El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, which can shift weather patterns and bring wetter, more intense, powerful winters to California. A study published in the journal Science found El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era, with that trend accelerating over the last 40 years as the planet warms.

Officials warn this El Niño cycle could bring heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow and coastal flooding. The looming event is already breaking records, and forecasters expect it to continue to strengthen, potentially becoming the strongest in recorded history.

State officials have said El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event this fall and winter and a 75% chance it could reach historic strength.

California has proclaimed an El Niño emergency, mobilizing state resources ahead of any potential impacts.

City News Service