More than 90% odds of a significant El Niño have pushed Marin County to intensify winter flood and landslide preparations, with officials warning that atmospheric rivers, elevated sea levels and king tides could combine into severe flooding.
11 large portable pumps are being staged in vulnerable areas after public works crews inspected 6,000 culverts, cleared 350 storm drains and mapped weak points in berms and levees for sandbags and temporary reinforcements.
32 public sandbag pickup sites are now listed on a county website, while AlertMarin warnings will be sent up to five days ahead when forecasts hit triggers such as 2 inches of rain in an hour, 3 inches in 24 hours or tides above 7 feet.
January flooding already exposed the county's vulnerability: Marin submitted a $4.3 million damage estimate, including $2.6 million to a Santa Venetia levee, but the state denied emergency aid, leaving it ineligible for FEMA funds.
A new regional radar network will give Marin higher-resolution storm forecasts this winter, as officials press residents, cities and community groups to share responsibility for preparation during holiday-period king tides.