Los Angeles County orders storm readiness assessment ahead of strong El Nino

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is concerned due to the combination of a series of recent wildfires and a strong El Nino brewing.

"With looming threats of powerful rain storms this coming winter, we need to prepare," said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Climate scientists say the eastern Pacific is warming up, and the current trends point to what could be the strongest El Nino on record, even worse than the 1997's storm season in California that left 17 dead and caused more than half a billion dollars in damage. That's why the supervisors ordered a comprehensive storm readiness assessment on Tuesday.

"We have to prepare to ensure that all of our public, private partners are able to respond immediately to help save life and property that are impacted by the El Nino," said L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Experts say there's a 90 percent chance of a powerful El Nino this winter, which could possibly bring dangerous flash flooding and debris slides.

Jeff Reeb, the director of the Office of Emergency Management for the County of L.A., says that's why now's the best time to plan for problems months away.

"We cannot predict exactly when an event is going to be, but we have our ability to coordinate, the ability to inform the public and the ability to work together to make sure that we have the best outcome possible," Reeb said.

But what some see as potential destruction, others see as a possible blessing. The county hopes future storms will help battle our multi-year drought.

"How are we going to be able to recapture a lot of that water that we haven't in the past and really work hard to build up our reservoirs?" said L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe.

Southern Californians are hoping for the rain, but are also hoping it doesn't all come at once.