Weather forecasters have predicted a strong El Niño weather pattern that may bring heavy rainfall to Southern California this winter.

To help Santa Clarita residents get properly prepared for the expected wetter-than-usual winter, Santa Clarita officials have launched an educational outreach campaign to inform residents on the importance of El Niño preparation, what they can do before, during and after heavy rainfall, and information on the City’s prevention and response efforts.

The City’s new webpage “Ready for Rain” at www.Santa-Clarita.com/ReadyforRain provides El Niño weather updates, tips, FAQs, related resources and emergency alert sign-ups.

“With El Niño brewing, we’re expecting a large amount of rain in a small amount of time, so it’s critical that we prepare now for all that rain that may come all at once,” said Mayor Marsha McLean.

Heavy rain can cause floods, or in some cases, mudslides in areas that are near slopes that are unstable or lack vegetation. Residents are encouraged to follow prevention tips offered on the Ready for Rain webpage, such as clearing rain gutters and inspecting the roof for any loose tiles or holes. Equally important, information on what they can do during and after the rain is also listed on the site.

“There are simple things you can do around your home to minimize the damage that may come from heavy rainfall in your area,” said Mayor Marsha McLean.

To prepare for the worst, City officials will work to clear debris from streets, clean and monitor storm drains, handle problematic trees and inspect City facilities, trails and construction sites that may create issues during heavy rainfall.

“We’re doing our best to get ahead of this potentially damaging storm system. City staff have been proactively planning and reviewing pre-determined hot spot areas that we think are vulnerable to debris flow or flooding. We’re planning ahead so that we’ll have the proper equipment and staff to handle an emergency if one occurs,” said Mayor Marsha McLean.

During a state of emergency, residents are asked to visit the City’s Emergency Information Blog at santaclaritaemergency.com. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts from the City by texting SCEMERGENCY to 888777 or signing up online at www.santa-clarita.com/ealerts.

For more information on the City’s efforts to prepare for El Niño or other emergency preparedness information, contact the City’s Emergency Services Supervisor, Donna Nuzzi, at (661) 286-4093 or dnuzzi@santa-clarita.com.