By John Todd | Rio Linda Online
Published Sept. 22, 2026
September is Emergency Preparedness Month, but this year the reminder feels especially important here at home.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a statewide state of emergency Monday, Sept. 21, directing California agencies to begin preparing for what forecasters say could become a historically strong El Niño season.
The proclamation allows the state to move more quickly to protect vulnerable areas, stage equipment and supplies, prepare roads and infrastructure, and help local agencies reduce the threat of flooding. (www.gov.ca.gov)
For those of us in Rio Linda and Elverta, flood preparation is not an abstract exercise. Flooding is part of our history, and many longtime neighbors remember exactly what happened when Dry Creek rose in 1986 and again in 1995.
We have seen this before
The February 1986 storms overwhelmed Dry Creek and Arcade Creek, flooded our roads and neighborhoods, and forced hundreds of people from their homes.
The larger storm system battered Northern California for more than a week. Highways closed, thousands of homes and businesses were damaged, and extraordinary amounts of rain fell across the region. Here in Rio Linda and Elverta, school was out and floodwater became part of the landscape. (www.riolindaonline.com)
Our community flooded again in January 1995. The damage was serious enough to bring President Bill Clinton to Rio Linda, where he met with neighbors and volunteers at Rio Linda Community United Methodist Church.
Clinton also made a stop beneath the Rio Linda arch for a bowl of chili and a Diet Pepsi at Archway Frostie—a small-town detail that many people remember as clearly as the presidential visit itself. (www.sfgate.com)
Flood-control improvements completed after those disasters have helped, but they have not eliminated our risk. When Dry Creek rose above flood stage again in January 2017, Cherry Island flooded, roads closed and Rio Linda High School became a temporary evacuation shelter. (www.riolindaonline.com)
We also know one of the earliest signs that a storm is becoming serious: Sorento Road begins to disappear.
Flooding on Sorento Road, just north of Elverta Road, is one of our most visible indications that local drainage is becoming overwhelmed. When water starts covering Sorento, we know it is time to watch our creeks, low-lying roads and drainage channels closely.
No matter how familiar the road may be, never attempt to drive through floodwater. The water may be deeper or faster than it appears, and the roadway underneath could be damaged or washed out.
What Newsom’s declaration means for us
The governor’s state of emergency does not mean a disaster is already underway. It is an early preparation measure intended to help California get ready before the heaviest winter weather arrives.
The order directs state agencies to stage sandbags, pumps, road-closure equipment and other flood-fighting resources. It also prepares the California National Guard to assist with search and rescue, engineering and logistics if needed.
State officials said there is a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter and a 75% chance that it could reach historic strength.
El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter, nor can it tell us exactly where individual storms will strike. It does increase the possibility of repeated heavy rain, strong winds, flooding, landslides and power outages. (www.gov.ca.gov)
In other words, there is no reason to panic—but there is every reason to prepare.
Sandbags expected at Station 116
As of Sept. 22, sandbags are expected to be available for Rio Linda and Elverta neighbors at Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Station 116, located at 7995 Elwin Ave. in Elverta.
The location is self-service. Bring your own shovel and be prepared to fill, load and transport the bags yourself. The previously announced county limit is 20 bags per visit.
If you still have sandbags from a previous winter, inspect them before depending on them. The bags deteriorate with age and exposure to sunlight.
Five things we can do now
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is encouraging all of us to use Emergency Preparedness Month to complete a few practical tasks before severe weather arrives:
- Sign up for Sacramento County emergency alerts and keep wireless emergency alerts enabled.
- Decide where your family will meet if you become separated.
- Identify at least two ways out of your neighborhood in case your usual route is flooded or blocked.
- Prepare a go-bag with medication, important documents, food, water, flashlights, first-aid supplies and necessities for pets.
- Keep enough food, water and essential supplies at home to get through at least three days without power or passable roads.
Families should also choose an out-of-area contact, make sure children know important phone numbers, clear leaves and debris from gutters and nearby drains, and keep vehicles fueled when severe weather is approaching.
These preparations do not need to happen all at once. Filling one bag, choosing one meeting place or signing up for one alert system today leaves your household better prepared than it was yesterday.
Know when it is time to leave
Cal OES distinguishes between an evacuation warning and an evacuation order.
An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life and property. Start preparing to leave. Neighbors who need additional time or who must move pets, livestock or horses should consider leaving early.
An evacuation order means there is an immediate threat. Leave without delay and follow directions from emergency officials. (www.news.caloes.ca.gov)
Knowing the difference before an emergency can save valuable time when conditions begin changing quickly.
After floodwater reaches a property
Some homes and businesses in Rio Linda and Elverta rely on private wells, septic systems or other small water systems. Floodwater can contaminate them.
Do not drink water from a well that may have been exposed to flooding. A septic system should not be used until the surrounding floodwater has dropped below the level of the tank.
More information is available in Rio Linda Online’s guide to floodwater-contaminated wells and septic systems. (www.riolindaonline.com)
We have seen what sustained rain can do here. The lesson of 1986, 1995 and 2017 is not that every forecast becomes a disaster. It is that the preparations we make before the creeks rise are far more useful than the plans we try to make after Sorento Road disappears beneath the water.
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