For basically, well, forever, SoCal has two seasons: gorgeous, and the dreaded three-days-a-year it rains and literally everyone forgets how to drive. This winter, though, we may be adding a third. NOAA forecasters give this year's El Niño a 75% chance of being the strongest since 1950, and officials across the region are already shoring up hillsides and clearing out flood basins ahead of a wet, wild winter.
The rainy season is when a house tells you the truth. The ones that sail through winter usually had clean gutters in October. So consider this your October call-to-action: read our helpful and vital checklist now and knock out a few, or all, over a couple of weekends. Believe us, it will be SO worth it to be prepared.
Before the First Storm
☐ Give the gutters a full spa day. Clear out every leaf and twig, then make sure downspouts send water away from the house instead of straight at the foundation.
☐ Clear the curb. That storm drain grate at the end of your driveway has been collecting leaves since spring, and it's the first thing to back up when the rain comes.
☐ Walk your block in the first drizzle. Every Westside street has a low spot where water likes to gather, and it's worth knowing yours before the big one arrives.
☐ Find your shutoffs. Know where your main water valve and electrical panel live, and make sure everyone in the house does too.
☐ Build a leak kit. A tarp, a couple of buckets and a stack of old towels in the garage will save you a very long night.
☐ Line up your people now. Roofers, plumbers and tree crews book up fast once the forecast turns, so get your go-to names saved in your phone (and if you need a recommendation, ask us, we know a few good ones).
☐ Pick up your free sandbags. LA County hands them out at sites across the county, and the line the morning after the first big forecast is its own weather event.
13423 Bayliss Road, Brentwood — For Sale
If You Live Up the Hill or By the Beach
☐ Book a free mudflow check. If your home sits near a hillside, canyon or burn area, LA County Public Works offers free consultations on debris flow risk at 1-800-933-0930.
☐ Mark your calendar for king tides. Forecasters expect big winter waves to line up with high tides in November and December, so beachfront homes should plan ahead.
☐ Map a backup to PCH. Storms have closed stretches near Malibu before, so know your canyon route before you need it.
31360 Broad Beach Road, Malibu — Sold
The Paperwork
☐ Get a flood insurance quote, and do it soon. According to the California Department of Insurance, standard homeowners and renters policies usually exclude flooding and mudslides, and flood coverage generally takes 30 days to kick in. Buy in November, covered in December.
☐ Take inventory like it's listing day. A quick photo or video pass through every room makes any future claim a lot less painful, and nobody knows how to show off a house like we do.
Storm Day
☐ Sign up for Alert LA County. Get evacuation warnings sent straight to your phone at alert.lacounty.gov.
☐ Charge everything. Phones, power banks, flashlights, and the car too, because a storm is a terrible time to discover you're on empty.
☐ Stay out of the water. "Turn around, don't drown" is corny because it works. No shortcut through a flooded intersection is worth it.
☐ Stock the storm-day pantry. Candles that smell nice, a stack of board games, everything you need for a big pot of pozole, and a bottle of tequila, which we consider an emergency essential.
The Silver Lining
☐ Plan your escape to the snow. The same storm track that has us hauling sandbags is aimed right at the Sierra, where NOAA gives the region 50% to 60% odds of an above-normal winter and skiers are already calling for a big season.
If your idea of weathering the storm involves fresh powder and a fireplace, Limelight Residences Mammoth sits right across from The Village Gondola. As the official LA ambassadors for the project, we'd love to tell you more.