As ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific are expected to rise, scientists predict this could become the strongest El Niño on record. On September 21, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.
What is El Niño, and how can homeowners prepare for a wet winter?
El Niño is a recurring climate pattern characterized by unusually warm waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. During an El Niño event, trade winds weaken, allowing warm water to move east toward the West Coast. This shift can alter the Pacific jet stream and drive powerful weather patterns across the United States, including heavy rain and storms in California. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], 2024).
California residents are no strangers to natural disasters, including wildfires, floods, mudslides, and coastal storms. A strong El Niño could bring repeated periods of heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, and coastal erosion. Properties near the coast, in flood-prone areas, or below recent wildfire burn scars may face greater risk. Still, El Niño does not guarantee unusually heavy rainfall throughout California, and its effects remain difficult to predict.
Understand Your Insurance Coverage Before a Storm
Homeowners should review their insurance policies before severe weather arrives. Standard homeowner policies may cover some storm-related damage, but coverage ultimately depends on the cause of the loss and the policy’s specific terms and exclusions. See Chip Merlin’s blog post regarding the coverage of structured interiors, where “storm damage to interiors of structures not caused by ‘direct force’ of a storm may not be a covered loss. Many property insurance policies exclude rain damage to a building’s interior and furnishings unless rain entered as a result of ‘direct action’ of a storm on the building’s roof or walls, such as a hole in the roof or walls.”
Policyholders should identify any exclusions or limitations involving mudslides, sewer backups, mold, water intrusion, or damage caused by inadequate maintenance. Because a loss may have several contributing causes, homeowners should not assume damage is covered or excluded without carefully reviewing the policy.
United Policyholders recommends conducting a home insurance check-up before a potential disaster. Before winter storm season, homeowners should inspect their roofs for damage, create an up-to-date home inventory, and keep copies of insurance policies, receipts, and other important records.
United Policyholders also provides additional Preparedness Action Steps, including guidance in checking coverage, preparing an evacuation plan, signing up for emergency alerts, and creating a home inventory. A current inventory can help policyholders identify damaged property and support a claim after a loss.
What to Do After Storm Damage
After a loss, safety comes first. Once conditions allow, policyholders should promptly notify their insurance company and document all visible damage before beginning repairs. They should take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage, such as covering a damaged roof, keeping receipts for emergency repairs, temporary housing, storage, and other storm-related expenses.
Notably, policyholders should keep a written record of communications with the insurer and request that the insurer provide claim and coverage decisions in writing. California homeowners cannot control the weather, but taking action by reviewing coverage and documenting property can make the road to recovery more manageable.
