Governor Newsom orders action to protect Highway 1 and coastal communities ahead of El Niño storms

What you need to know: Governor Newsom is directing state agencies to prepare Highway 1 and surrounding communities for potential El Niño storm damage and address longer-term climate threats. The order brings state agencies together to protect a vital economic artery, reduce storm-related closures, and strengthen the coast's defenses against worsening climate threats. Building on his September El Niño emergency proclamation, the Governor also signed an executive order to strengthen flood preparedness and protect communities and critical infrastructure across the state.

NEWPORT BEACH - Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order to protect Highway 1 and the coastal communities, businesses, and jobs that depend on it as California prepares for potentially dangerous El Niño storms. Governor Newsom signed the order at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, where coastal erosion and a major bluff crack elsewhere in the park underscore the dangers already facing California's coastline. El Niño-driven ocean conditions can compound those risks when combined with high tides and powerful surf.

Today's order directs state agencies to prioritize preventive work before storms hit, and to plan for the growing climate threats facing the highway even beyond this storm season.

Highway 1 is more than our nation's most iconic roadway. It keeps our coastal economy moving. It gets people to work, children to school, goods to local businesses, first responders where they're needed most, and visitors to our legendary beaches. We know what repeated closures cost these communities, and we're putting state agencies to work now to reduce the danger before storms hit. Meanwhile, Trump's FEMA is sending communities across the country a shameful message: when disaster strikes, you're on your own.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Read the full executive order here.

A b-roll package of the Governor signing the executive orders can be downloaded here.

Protecting Highway 1 means protecting lives and the way of life in California's coastal communities. Residents rely on it to evacuate during emergencies, first responders need it to reach people in danger, and local businesses depend on it to keep their doors open. The financial stakes are also enormous: since 1980, major weather and climate disasters nationwide have cost more than $3.3 trillion.

The Governor also signed an executive order building on his September emergency proclamation related to El Niño, adopting additional measures to help communities prepare before storms arrive. The order gives agencies additional tools to reduce flood risks and protect communities and critical infrastructure from other anticipated El Niño impacts. This action comes as the Trump administration walks away from its disaster-response responsibilities, leaving Americans to face the worst days of their lives without the federal support FEMA was created to provide.

A copy of the executive order related to the El Niño state of emergency can be found here. Public agencies seeking emergency streamlining for storm preparedness work should visit the California Natural Resources Agency website.

Protecting coastal communities and California's economy

The stakes are already clear: emergency project expenditures on the Big Sur Highway 1 corridor totaled approximately $312 million from 2020 through 2026. Today's action focuses on reducing risk before more damage occurs, especially by protecting the communities and businesses that bear the costs of repeated closures.

The executive order creates a Highway 1 Task Force, led by the California State Transportation Agency and California Natural Resources Agency, to prepare the corridor for El Niño storms and address longer-term climate threats.

The task force will identify vulnerable stretches, recommend priority actions and funding needs, and find ways to get preventive work done faster. The order also directs Caltrans to prioritize landslide prevention where practicable and State Parks to assess how closures and repairs could affect parks and public access.

"Keeping communities safe means taking action before a storm arrives," said Cal OES Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs. "Cal OES is putting the Governor's emergency proclamation into action by leading coordination among state agencies, preparing resources, and supporting our local partners. Together, we're working to protect vital routes like Highway 1, which coastal communities depend on to evacuate safely, connect with essential services, and receive help during emergencies."

"Under Governor Newsom's leadership, California is taking proactive and aggressive steps to prepare for the impacts of El Niño," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "From strengthening vulnerable roadways to improving emergency readiness by prepositioning critical equipment, our departments are working at every level to protect critical infrastructure and keep Californians moving safely."

"El Niño is nothing new for California but this year's conditions are super-charged by an alarming marine heat wave off our coast that has already raised sea levels by a full foot," said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. "Thanks to the Governor's action, we're moving faster than ever to prepare. This includes working around the clock with local, state and federal partners to protect our communities against the worst potential impacts - from reinforcing key portions of our Pacific Coast Highway to speeding approvals for priority flood and storm safety projects."

"Governor Newsom's executive order reinforces Caltrans' commitment to prepare for the El Niño season while also building a more resilient transportation system," said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. "Through proactive maintenance and coordinated planning, Caltrans is working with its partners to protect travelers, support local communities and businesses, and keep this vital corridor open and safe

"Highway 1 is the gateway to many state parks and beaches along California's coast," said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. "As we brace for potential significant impacts from El Niño and longer-term climate threats along this essential corridor, cross-collaboration will be critical for visitor safety, public access, resource protection and emergency response. I applaud Governor Newsom's proactive leadership for a coordinated statewide response through this executive order."

Preparing roads before storms arrive

Across California, Caltrans is taking action to prepare for El Niño - inspecting known trouble spots, training crews, and prepositioning equipment so response teams can act quickly as storms approach.

Crews are working to:

• ️ Keep drainage systems clear. Inspecting and clearing catch basins, ditches, and culverts, and checking pumps to help keep runoff moving away from roadways.

• ️ Prepare high-risk corridors. Staging sandbags and sediment-control materials near vulnerable locations, including wildfire burn scars.

• ⚙️ Ready equipment and backup power. Checking snow-removal and avalanche-control equipment, emergency generators, and fuel supplies.

• Position resources for rapid response. Preparing storm-response equipment and supplies at more than 120 maintenance yards statewide, with approximately 1,300 pieces of winter operations equipment available for deployment.

• Prepare for around-the-clock operations. Crews across all 12 Caltrans districts are ready to transition to continuous storm coverage and 12-hour emergency shifts when needed.

These preparations build on Caltrans' broader work to assess climate vulnerabilities and use updated sea-level-rise guidance to inform transportation planning and investments.

Stay safe on the road

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) urges drivers to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, including flooding, landslides, debris flows, and road closures.

• Know before you go. Check Caltrans QuickMap for road closures, traffic conditions, and chain controls. Follow local forecasts and emergency instructions. Get local emergency alerts here and follow trusted sources.

• Slow down and leave more room. Reduce speeds on wet roads and increase the distance between vehicles so there is more time to stop. Avoid cruise control in wet conditions.

• Prepare your vehicle. Check tires, windshield wipers, and other essential equipment. Turn on headlights when weather requires continuous use of windshield wipers.

• Never drive through floodwater. Standing or moving water can conceal a damaged or washed-out roadway. Turn around safely and find another route.

CHP officers will continue monitoring road conditions, responding to weather-related incidents, and coordinating with transportation and emergency response partners statewide.

What is El Niño?

El Niño refers to the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Usually, the tropical western Pacific is warmer than the tropical eastern Pacific; in El Niño, however, this pattern reverses, and the eastern Pacific warms significantly. This changes circulation and precipitation patterns around the world. Although specific, localized impacts are unpredictable, El Niño often produces more frequent and intense storms over California. These storms can produce dangerous flooding, landslides, debris flows, erosion, and other dangerous impacts. This year, California has already experienced coastal flooding attributed to El Niño - as "Kelvin waves" raise sea levels and offshore Pacific hurricanes (fueled by warm water in the eastern Pacific) drive strong waves battering the California coast.