San Diego is mailing flood-preparedness flyers to more than 7,000 properties in high-risk zones and distributing free sandbags as the city braces for a potentially severe El Niño winter.

La Jolla has seen El Niño damage before. CalMatters reported that Scripps Institution of Oceanography research meteorologist Alexander Gershunov noted the 1982-83 El Niño damaged the historic Scripps Pier and flooded the Marine Room restaurant. Past El Niño events in 1982-83 and 1997-98 each produced nearly 20 inches of rain at Lindbergh Field, roughly double a typical year, according to CalMatters citing Scripps researcher Dan Cayan.

The Stormwater Department announced the campaign in an Aug. 18 press release, with FOX 5 San Diego reporting additional details on Monday, Aug. 31. Empty sandbags are available at recreation centers citywide, limited to 10 per household. Sand is not provided.

According to the FOX 5 report, all San Diego residents qualify for a 15% discount on flood insurance premiums through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flooding can occur outside designated flood zones, and the city is urging property owners and renters to consider coverage.

Citywide, about 15,000 acres and more than 6,900 structures sit in FEMA-designated flood hazard areas, according to the press release.

Council President Joe LaCava, who represents District 1 including La Jolla, said the city's stormwater system faces a $5 billion funding gap, the Times of San Diego reported from an Aug. 18 press conference. LaCava said in the city's press release that the potential severity of storms could overwhelm even the cleanest channel or infrastructure, and urged residents to take steps now.

Stormwater Department Director Todd Snyder told FOX 5 in an email that "preparing early for what may be an unusually wet season is crucial, because if your home has flooded or been impacted by wet weather before, there is a high likelihood it could happen during a future rain event."

The department is ramping up channel maintenance. Before 2024, city crews cleared about four stormwater channel segments per year. In fiscal year 2027, which began in July, the department plans to clear 67 segments covering more than 20 miles, with crews working six days a week, 12 hours a day, the Times of San Diego reported. The city added $1 million to the FY27 budget for the effort. Over the past fiscal year, crews maintained more than 11 miles of channels, prioritizing areas hit by the January 2024 floods that damaged about 1,000 homes in Shelltown.

The city has also taken out a $733 million low-interest federal loan from the Environmental Protection Agency to fund stormwater upgrades, according to the Times of San Diego.

The city's Office of Emergency Services has convened an El Niño working group with representatives from all city departments and public safety agencies.

Residents can check whether their property is in a FEMA flood zone at msc.fema.gov, sign up for emergency alerts at AlertSanDiego.org, and find maps and resources at sandiego.gov/elnino.