Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at a "Yes On Prop 50" volunteer event at the LA Convention Center on Nov. 1, 2025, in Los Angeles.
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Jill Connelly
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Getty Images
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Topline:
A three-judge panel ruled Wednesday that the new congressional maps created by California voters in the fall are legal and should remain in place, handing a win to state Democrats who hope the new districts will swing five congressional seats for their party next year.
About the case: The ruling denies a request by California Republicans and the Trump administration for the federal court in Los Angeles to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the maps created by Proposition 50. In the 117-page ruling, the federal judges rejected GOP arguments that the new maps amounted to racial gerrymandering, which has been prohibited by the U.S. Supreme Court. The panel ruled 2-1, with the two Democratic appointees ruling for California and Judge Kenneth K. Lee, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, dissenting.
What's next: The ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Congressional candidates have until March 6 to file papers to run for office in the June primary.
A three-judge panel ruled Wednesday that the new congressional maps created by California voters in the fall are legal and should remain in place, handing a win to state Democrats who hope the new districts will swing five congressional seats for their party next year.
The ruling denies a request by California Republicans and the Trump administration for the federal court in Los Angeles to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the maps created by Proposition 50.
In the 117-page ruling, the federal judges rejected GOP arguments that the new maps amounted to racial gerrymandering, which has been prohibited by the U.S. Supreme Court. The panel ruled 2-1, with the two Democratic appointees ruling for California and Judge Kenneth K. Lee, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, dissenting.
In the opinion, Judge Josephine Staton wrote that the panel’s conclusion “probably seems obvious to anyone who followed the news” about Proposition 50 last year. She noted that during the campaign, no one ever described the new maps as racially motivated — including the Republican plaintiffs.
“No one on either side of that debate characterized the map as a racial gerrymander,” the opinion states, noting that the California Republican Party called it a “political power grab to help Democrats retake Congress and impeach Trump,” and Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi deemed it a “redistricting power grab” for political gain.”
The judges also rejected Republican arguments that the voters’ intent did not matter. The majority wrote that voters clearly were endorsing the argument that both sides were making: that this was a partisan power grab, aimed at giving Democrats a leg up in the midterm elections and counteracting what GOP-led states were doing with their own districts.
Democrats celebrated the ruling.
“Republicans’ weak attempt to silence voters failed. California voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 50 — to respond to Trump’s rigging in Texas — and that is exactly what this court concluded,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.
Newsom pushed lawmakers to put Proposition 50 on a special statewide ballot after Trump set off a mid-decade redistricting scramble by demanding Texas redraw its maps to benefit Republicans.
In his dissenting opinion, Lee wrote that race “likely played a predominant role in drawing at least one district because the smoking gun is in the hands of Paul Mitchell,” referring to a Democratic consultant who helped draw the new lines.
Lee argued that Mitchell publicly “boasted” about boosting Latino voting power in the 13th Congressional District in theCentral Valley, and that voter intent should not be the only basis for the court’s decision.
“To be sure, California’s main goal was to add more Democratic congressional seats. But that larger political gerrymandering plan does not allow California to smuggle in racially gerrymandered seats,” said Lee, who wrote that Democrats likely wanted to create a Latino majority district “as part of a racial spoils system to award a key constituency that may be drifting away from the Democratic party.”
The ruling could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Congressional candidates have until March 6 to file papers to run for office in the June primary.
The Strokes play Just Like Heaven at the Rose Bowl this weekend.
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Kevin Mazur
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Getty Images for Coachella
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In this edition:
Dudamel bids farewell at the Bowl, Los Feliz hosts a Writers Fest, Just Like Heaven comes to the Rose Bowl and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
The Los Feliz Writers Festival includes a personal essay workshop, spoken-word performances, a food-and-sensory-writing experience at Bar Covell, a zine hangout at Barnsdall Art Park and more.
No one in L.A. is busier this week than Gustavo Dudamel in his last few performances at the Hollywood Bowl before he heads to the New York Philharmonic next season. Catch him at one of the many farewell shows at the Bowl, or head downtown and hopefully score a ticket to hear him in conversation with actor Sir Anthony Hopkins.
Just Like Heaven comes to the Rose Bowl on Saturday, with big-name headliners like the Strokes, Feist, LCD Soundsystem and more.
I can’t believe school is already back in session across much of the area. What happened to summer? I’m still only halfway through my TBF summer reading pile…
To celebrate the start of the new school year, you can’t go wrong heading out for a DineLA deal one evening (through Aug. 28) or hitting up one of the many Dudamel farewell shows at the Hollywood Bowl.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can follow what’s next for Shadow after the loss of Jackie, check out FilmWeek's review of the new thriller The End of Oak Street, and take a look at where to see the work of late L.A. artist Betye Saar.
Music
For non-Dudamel music this week — and there’s tons — check out highlights from Licorice Pizza’s picks, including a free in-store performance by Bleu at their location in Studio City on Saturday.
Letterpress Surplus Sale and Wayzgoose Celebration
Saturday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. International Printing Museum 315 W. Torrance Blvd., Carson COST: $12-$15; MORE INFO
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Courtesy The International Printing Museum
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It makes sense that back-to-school season is also historically “printing season,” so celebrate all things letterpress at the annual Wayzgoose Celebrationat Carson’s International Printing Museum. From workshops on paper marbling and foil printing to demos and more, you’ll be making your own hipster greeting card line in no time.
Christian Marclay: The Clock
Through Sunday, Aug. 23 LACMA 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile COST: Included in museum admission; MORE INFO
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Courtesy LACMA
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In a time before AI video editing and easy access to all the videos ever made, artist Christian Marclay made The Clock, a 24-hour film that follows a complete day with an image of a clock — spliced from TV shows, movies, commercials, you name it — of the exact time in every scene. LACMA hasn’t shown the film since 2015, so head over and catch it during regular museum hours or for a full 24 hours until the weekend. I saw 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. last week, but I want a full report from anyone awake enough to catch the 4 a.m. session!
Nelson German: Caribbean Cocktails book tour
Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m. Williams Sonoma South Coast Plaza 3333 Bear Street Ste. 155, Costa Mesa COST: $24, includes book; MORE INFO
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Nelson German
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Eventbrite
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Top Chef alum and chef-restaurateur Nelson German will host a live cocktail-mixing demonstration at South Coast Plaza in celebration of his new book, Caribbean Cocktails. German will sign books and discuss his recipes that bring flavors of the Afro-Latino diaspora to the table. Tickets include a copy of his new book.
Philip K. Dick Festival
Through Sunday, Aug. 23 Fullerton Marriott at Cal State University 2701 Nutwood Ave., Fullerton COST: Varies; MORE INFO
PKD flyers outside the Pollak Library, where his papers are housed.
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Robert Garrova / LAist
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The author behind near-future pop culture touchstones like Minority Report and The Man in the High Castle spent the last 10 years of his life in Santa Ana, so it’s only fitting that Fullerton would host a festival celebrating one of its most unique denizens. The fourth annual Philip K. Dick festival is this weekend; LAist’s Robert Garrova previewed the event and learned more about the beloved — and out-there — author.
Anthony Hopkins and Dudamel
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Downtown L.A. COST: SOLD OUT, waitlist available; MORE INFO
No one in L.A. is busier this week than Gustavo Dudamel, who has his last few performances at the Hollywood Bowl before he heads to the New York Philharmonic next season. Catch him at one of the many farewell shows at the Bowl, or head downtown and hopefully score a ticket to hear him in conversation with actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. The two collaborated on 88-year-old Hopkins’s newly released first album as a composer, Life Is a Dream.
VinylCon
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22 and 23 California Market Center 110 E. Ninth St., Downtown L.A. COST: FROM $12.45; MORE INFO
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Courtesy VinylCon
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Whether you’re looking to round out your record collection or have a specific LP in mind, head to VinylCon at the California Market Center, where rows and rows of records will greet you. Crate-diggers, unite!
Mindfulness Mornings
Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 13, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Natural History Museum 900 Exposition Blvd., Expo Park COST: $30, includes museum admission and parking; MORE INFO
Start the weekend off with mindfulness among the wonders at the Natural History Museum. Yoga practices and sound baths are on the agenda monthly before the museum opens, but stick around to check out the exhibits once your calming session wraps up. This week’s is sold out, but plan ahead for the Sept. 13 event.
Los Feliz Writers Festival
Through Sunday, Aug. 23 Various locations Los Feliz COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Learn about the writers of Los Feliz — past and present — at the Los Feliz Writers Festival. From a personal essay workshop to spoken-word performances; a food-and-sensory writing experience at Bar Covell to a zine hangout at Barnsdall Art Park; there’s something for writers and readers of all stripes at this free, volunteer-run festival.
Save the Woman’s Club of Hollywood: Old Hollywood Variety Show
Saturday, Aug. 22, 6 p.m. 1749 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood COST: $33.85; MORE INFO
Come for the stand-up comedy, the magic and Bob Baker Marionettes; stay for the good cause — a fundraiser for the Hollywood Women’s Club. The club is 121 years old and donated the land for what’s now the beloved Hollywood Bowl.
Kevin Tidmarsh
has been covering restrictions to healthcare for trans youth under the second Trump administration.
Published August 18, 2026 5:35 PM
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, pictured here in the background, offered gender-affirming care to youth before it closed its clinic in 2025.
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Robyn Beck
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
LAist crunched the numbers, and people concerned about being affected by cut to trans youth care under Medi-Cal can rest a little easier.
Youth on Medi-Cal bill $1 million per year for hormones: People under 18 covered by Medi-Cal filed about $1 million worth of claims in 2025 for hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers, according to data California’s Department of Health Care Services.
Some care remains covered: The federal Medicaid rule only affects puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries, according to health policy organization KFF, so services like mental health treatment would still be reimbursable with federal funds.
Medi-Cal’s budget: The overall Medi-Cal program budget during this period was almost $200 billion. All transgender youth health services, including mental health services, make up just 0.004% of the plan’s budget.
If you run into issues with your Medi-Cal billing: Keep reading for more info.
California has been preparing to fill a budget gap for gender-affirming care procedures after the federal government pulled the funds under the direction of President Donald Trump and Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
LAist crunched the numbers to see if the state has budgeted enough, and here’s what we found.
Youth on Medi-Cal bill $1 million yearly for hormones
People under 18 covered by Medi-Cal filed about $1 million in claims in 2025 for hormone replacement therapy and puberty blockers, according to data California’s Department of Health Care Services. That accounted for about 4,000 claims.
Some providers that take trans youth patients on Medi-Cal, like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ trans youth clinic, closed last year, though many doctors still were able to write out prescriptions that lasted patients for months after that.
Some care remains covered
Medi-Cal also covered 4,800 claims for about 1,500 Medi-Cal members under 18 in 2025 for “doctor visits, counseling, surgeries, speech therapy, and other services,” totaling $6.4 million. Gender-affirming surgeries are only recommended for minors in rare circumstances.
However, the restrictions in the federal Medicaid rule only affect puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries, according to health policy organization KFF, so services like mental health treatment would still be reimbursable with federal funds. The rule, which would take effect Oct. 13, also lets states pay for minors’ gender-affirming hormone treatments and surgeries themselves.
The overall Medi-Cal program budget during this period was almost $200 billion, according to state data. Transgender youth health services, including mental health services, make up just 0.004% of the plan’s budget.
Medi-Cal administers both the federal Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) under a Medicaid expansion allowed for by the Affordable Care Act.
“The federal rule applies solely to federal Medicaid and CHIP funding; California will determine any adjustments needed to align with federal requirements,” California Department of Health Care Services spokesperson Anthony Cava said in a statement. “California remains committed to safeguarding access to medically necessary care for Medi-Cal members, including gender-affirming care.”
Medi-Cal agencies like L.A. Care have stated that they are continuing to cover gender-affirming care services.
Issues may still arise
While they celebrated the establishment of the fund, trans healthcare advocates have noted that some issues may arise due to providers who are unsure how the new state rules apply.
The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus has also said it’s bracing for future budget years to be “even more challenging as federal funding cuts and attacks on targeted investments to marginalized communities continue to threaten critical services.”
Meanwhile, California Attorney General Rob Bonta has denounced the restrictions on federal funding since they were first floated last year. A lawsuit has not yet been announced, but a spokesperson for his office told LAist, “We are closely reviewing the final rule.”
If you run into billing issues with your Medi-Cal provider
In most cases, the state health department recommends that Medi-Cal members file a complaint with their health plan first.
If you don’t agree with your health plan’s response, if the plan takes more than 30 days to address the problem in non-urgent cases, or if the matter is urgent, you can file a complaint with the state health department by calling a help center at (888) 466-2219 or by going to its website.
The California Department of Health Care Services also has an ombudsman who can help resolve issues over compensation for Medi-Cal. You can reach them by email at MMCDOmbudsmanOffice@dhcs.ca.gov or by phone at (888) 452-8609.
Keep up with LAist.
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Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published August 18, 2026 4:55 PM
People walk past a homeless encampment near a Target store on Sept. 28, 2023 in Hollywood.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images
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Getty Images North America
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Topline:
After homelessness advocates pushed a Los Angeles City Council member to change how the city treats encampments in his district, the full City Council voted today to selectively stop enforcing a law that bans unhoused people from sleeping in certain areas.
A controversial policy: One of the city’s most controversial enforcement laws on homelessness is found in section 41.18 of L.A.’s municipal code. It allows local elected leaders to establish zones where unhoused people cannot sit, lie down, sleep or keep belongings on sidewalks or other public areas.
What's new? Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez — who represents a district including Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park — recently introduced a motion to remove some of the 41.18 districts established by his predecessor, Mitch O'Farrell. On Tuesday, the council voted 10-3 to allow some zones to be erased in Soto-Martinez’s district. The zones include underpasses in Silver Lake, underpasses in Echo Park and 101 Freeway overpasses in Hollywood. Soto-Martinez said he believed today’s measure was the first effort to have 41.18 zones removed rather than put in place.
Dissenting votes: Some council members strongly defend using the 41.18 law in their districts. And three voted against rescinding the zones in Soto-Martinez’s district. Monica Rodriguez, council member for a district that covers much of the northeast San Fernando Valley, said during Tuesday’s meeting that “41.18 was never intended to be the solution to our homeless problem. In fact quite the opposite. It’s just about protecting public spaces for families who want to be able to take their kids to the park and not have to be exposed to it.”
Read on... to learn more about how the policy works.
After homelessness advocates pushed a Los Angeles City Council member to change how the city treats encampments in his district, the full City Council voted Tuesday to selectively stop enforcing a law that bans unhoused people from sleeping in certain areas.
A controversial policy
One of the city’s most controversial enforcement laws on homelessness is found in section 41.18 of L.A.’s municipal code. It allows local elected leaders to establish zones where unhoused people cannot sit, lie down, sleep or keep belongings on sidewalks or other public areas.
What's new?
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez — who represents a district including Hollywood, Silver Lake and Echo Park — recently introduced a motion to remove some of the 41.18 districts established by his predecessor, Mitch O'Farrell.
On Tuesday, the council voted 10-3 to allow some zones to be erased in Soto-Martinez’s district. The zones include underpasses in Silver Lake, underpasses in Echo Park and 101 Freeway overpasses in Hollywood.
Soto-Martinez said he believed today’s measure was the first effort to have 41.18 zones removed rather than put in place.
The debate
Supporters of 41.18 have said the policy allows officials to keep encampments away from schools, parks and other areas deemed “sensitive” by the city, enabling parents to keep their children away from encampments and helping to keep important pedestrian infrastructure clear.
Critics have said the policy doesn’t reliably keep encampments away from sensitive sites because people simply return after sweeps that don't offer them housing.
In Tuesday’s meeting, Soto-Martinez said enforcement in some of these areas leads to unhoused people losing their belongings, becoming lost to outreach workers and sometimes getting arrested.
“To me, that is a policy that does not work,” Soto-Martinez said in Tuesday’s meeting. “In our district, these zones were making it harder to do the things that do work.”
Councilmember Nithya Raman, now running for mayor, has also argued the policy is ineffective, saying it merely moves encampments to other blocks without getting people into housing.
A 2023 report from L.A.’s lead homelessness agency, first covered by LAist, concluded that the policy hadn’t kept most areas clear of encampments, and was “generally ineffective” at connecting people to housing.
Dissenting votes
Some council members strongly defend using 41.18 in their districts. Three voted against rescinding the zones in Soto-Martinez’s district.
Monica Rodriguez, council member for a district that covers much of the northeast San Fernando Valley, said during Tuesday’s meeting that “41.18 was never intended to be the solution to our homeless problem. In fact quite the opposite. It’s just about protecting public spaces for families who want to be able to take their kids to the park and not have to be exposed to it.”
Erin Stone
covers climate and environmental issues in Southern California.
Published August 18, 2026 4:14 PM
Muddy waves break on a debris-strewn shoreline in Ventura in 2023, a year that saw heavy rain throughout Southern California.
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Ashley Balderrama
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LAist
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Topline:
El Niño is officially with us, and it's a strong one. The natural global climate pattern temporarily warms the eastern tropical Pacific, causing extreme weather patterns across the globe. A strong El Niño has historically, though not always, been associated with very wet winters here in Southern California.
Why it matters: Experts emphasize that people need to develop an understanding of their personal risk, talk to neighbors who may have experienced flooding in the past and consider getting insured.
Why now: If you decide to buy flood insurance, start getting quotes soon. It can take about a month for new policies to kick in.
Read on ... for more on how to figure out your flood risk, and whether you should add flood insurance to your coverage.
El Niño is officially with us, and it’s looking like it’s likely going to be a doozy.
The natural global climate pattern temporarily warms the eastern tropical Pacific, causing extreme weather patterns across the globe. A strong El Niño has historically, though not always, been associated with very wet winters here in Southern California.
“ We are now explicitly expecting the strongest El Niño event ever observed,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. “ There will be a strong tilt in the odds towards wet, perhaps even very wet conditions in Southern California.”
Maybe you remember the very wet El Niños of years past — 1982 and 1997. Both were historic events that led to billions of dollars in damage and dozens of deaths.
“This is highly likely to exceed what occurred in [1982 or 1997], and by a considerable margin,” Swain said.
The good news? You still have time to prepare.
Experts emphasize that people need to develop an understanding of their personal risk, talk to neighbors who may have experienced flooding in the past and consider getting insured.
What you need to know about El Niño
El Niño years can be associated with lots of rain in Southern California, though there's no guarantee of a deluge.
And wet winters aren’t always disastrous. What matters is how much water falls within how much time. In fact, going back to when modern records began in 1950, most of the years when we've seen the highest flood-related costs were not during El Niño events.
But there are concerns beyond rain for late 2026 and early 2027.
El Niño this time will coincide with another natural phenomenon — the highest tides of the year in a nearly two-decade cycle known as “the declination of the moon.” We’re reaching the max this winter, according to Scripps scientist Mark Merrifield.
Because El Niño warms the ocean, it also raises sea levels temporarily. On top of that there’s an unprecedented level of human-caused global warming in the mix — that has already raised sea levels by as much as a foot along California’s coast over the last century, and is making normal weather patterns more extreme.
“So we start adding these things up, and they're actually not so small anymore,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. “The risk of coastal flooding is actually very high and almost guaranteed.”
It’s not only the coast — inland areas, especially along creeks and rivers, are also at risk due to more extreme rainfall driven by El Niño as well as human-caused global heating, Swain and other experts said.
Know your risk
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, compiles flood risk maps (you can also use this L.A. County map here).
Be aware that they are not comprehensive and can be out-of-date. Also, they include only risk from coastal flooding, such as tides and waves, as well as from rivers, creeks, channels and levies, which risk spilling over after back-to-back severe storms.
But the maps don’t include flood risk from short, heavy downpours or mudflows in recent burn zones, said Brett Sanders, a professor leading UC Irvine’s Flood Lab. So even if your home is not within an official flood zone, you could be at risk.
“What used to be grasslands and open space has been covered more and more by asphalt and concrete,” Sanders said. “And so more and more water runs off and these flood risks are increasing.”
Flooding diverts traffic on a Long Beach street in 2024.
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Eric Thayer
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Associated Press
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His lab has been working to figure out how to develop more comprehensive flood maps, to better determine risks and reflect changes brought on by a warming climate.
But Sanders said one of your best bets to prepare is low-tech: speak with neighbors or officials who know your local area, and remember how past severe rain events have affected your street or neighborhood. For example, if you live at the base of a hill, or in a basement or ground-level apartment, you’re more likely to see some water flow. That historical memory can help you develop a plan for a worst-case scenario.
“Some common sense local awareness from people is really valuable,” Sanders said. “Talk to somebody that's been around for a while. Ask them, ‘Do you remember floods happening here in the past?’ Or, ‘What happened in 1997 when we had our last really wet El Nino?’”
Once you know, consider filling sand bags ahead of time, keep drainages around and on your house clear, and think about how flooding may affect your travel routes.
People who live in recent wildfire burn areas are likely through the worst of it, Swain said.
“ I think the initial highest risk period will have passed by this winter,” he said.
Still, mudflow is possible. So remember how mud flowed during the storms soon after the 2025 L.A. fires and make sure you have what you need to protect your property and evacuate safely if needed.
Consider flood insurance
Homeowners and renters should take a moment to read their current insurance policies closely. Most homeowners insurance, as well as renters insurance, does not include coverage for flooding (water damage coverage is not flood coverage). Less than 2% of Californians have flood insurance at all.
If you don’t have it, get a quote, said Amy Bach, director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers. Flood insurance is usually a lot cheaper than typical insurance.
“ Don't make a decision not to carry flood insurance without getting a quote,” she said. “Find out how much it would cost before you decide.”
If you do get flood insurance, it’ll take about a month to kick in, so you want to start looking now before the official start of the wet season in October.
