With a potentially record-breaking El Niño threatening to bring severe weather and coastal flooding to the Bay Area, SF Mayor Lurie has declared a local emergency to help the city prepare for the coming months.San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a local emergency Friday as the city prepares f or a potentially record-breaking El Niño winter that could bring severe storms, heavy rain, and coastal flooding. The declaration allows city departments to bypass certain contracting requirements to purchase flood barriers, pumps, generators, and other supplies more quickly ahead of the coming storm season.“Today, I am declaring a local emergency to ensure San Francisco is ready for the severe storms, flooding, and high tides that El Niño could bring this winter,” Lurie said in a statement. “We are acting now to make sure our departments have the resources they need to protect San Franciscans quickly throughout the season.”The move comes as officials across the Bay Area and California prepare for potentially dangerous winter weather. As SFist reported previously, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in September, and Sonoma County supervisors have since issued their own emergency proclamation, directing county agencies to prepare vulnerable infrastructure and coordinate flood response with local, tribal, and state partners.Lurie's declaration temporarily streamlines purchasing and contracting for several city departments, including San Francisco Public Works, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Port of San Francisco, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Recreation and Park, and San Francisco International Airport. The city can also redirect funding as needed and coordinate its response through the Emergency Operations Center.“As we prepare for potentially severe weather this winter, our priority is making sure departments have the tools they need to protect residents and businesses, support our frontline workers and first responders, and keep essential city services running,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu in a statement. “Having the ability to purchase what we need, when we need it, is essential to delivering effective response amid rapidly changing emergency conditions.”The supplies being lined up include flood barriers and pumps to protect infrastructure, as well as generators to keep essential services running during power outages. The city is also preparing first-aid supplies, shelter materials, and portable restrooms for residents and emergency workers.The city's Department of Emergency Management is coordinating preparations for coastal flooding, power outages, and potential damage to public facilities. Residents and businesses are also being urged to secure outdoor items and move belongings out of flood-prone areas. San Francisco Public Works provides up to 10 free sandbags per address year-round.Meanwhile, Caltrans has begun making emergency improvements to flood-prone Highway 37, raising sections of the roadway by 3 feet ahead of the winter rains, as SFist reported previously.The 10.4-mile stretch between Mare Island in Vallejo and Sears Point will close in both directions from 10 pm Friday, October 23, until 5 am Monday, October 26. Drivers will be detoured through Napa and Sonoma counties via Highways 29, 12, and 121, while Highway 37 between Novato and Sears Point remains open.Crews will also close the highway during the weekend of November 13–15 to move a temporary median and shift traffic to the westbound lanes.Previously: ...read more read less