La Jolla residents can pick up free sandbags to protect their homes and businesses before El Niño storms arrive this fall and winter.

The city of San Diego has stocked empty sandbags at recreation centers across town, including the Pacific Beach Recreation Center at 1405 Diamond St., which serves all of Council District 1. La Jolla falls within that district. The bags are available while supplies last, according to the city's El Niño resource page.

There are rules. Each household or business can take up to 10 bags. The bags come empty. Residents must buy sand separately at a hardware or home improvement store. Taking sand from the beach or bay is not permitted.

The sandbag program is part of a broader city push to prepare for what the National Weather Service predicts will be an El Niño that intensifies through fall and winter 2026–2027. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for California in September to mobilize resources for coastal erosion, flooding, mudslides and winter storms.

The city warned on Saturday, Sept. 26, that very high tides were expected Saturday, Oct. 3, through Tuesday, Oct. 6, and could cause temporary flooding in low-lying coastal areas like Midway and Mission Beach, the Times of San Diego reported. City crews will monitor areas at risk.

San Diego began installing protective sand berms on city beaches and the Mission Bay shoreline earlier in September, roughly a month ahead of the traditional October schedule. Dustin Ivers of the San Diego Office of Emergency Services said in a Sept. 10 Fox 5 San Diego report that the city had formed a formal El Niño Emergency Working Group to coordinate the effort. "So the city is doing everything we can to prepare for El Nino. But we're also asking the public to prepare themselves," Ivers said at the time.

Beyond the city program, nearly 40 San Diego County and Cal Fire stations are also offering free sand and sandbags to residents, Fox 5 San Diego reported. The county's El Niño 2026 Informational Hub at alertsandiego.org includes preparedness guidance, hazard information and emergency alert registration.

The city also advises residents to inspect seawalls, revetments and bulkheads for signs of distress before storm season and after every storm. Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy, and the city directs residents to FloodSmart.gov for more information.

The Pacific Beach Recreation Center is accessible from Interstate 5 via the Grand Avenue/Garnet Avenue exit. Sandbag availability hours were not listed on the city's website; residents can check sandiego.gov/elnino or call the center for current hours.