One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
California construction industry braces for El Niño
NOAA researchers estimated the total U.S. economic impact of the last major El Nino in 1997 to be around $25 billion.
(
nasa.gov
)
Listen
0:41
California construction industry braces for El Niño
Forecasters say there’s an increasingly good chance of a strong El Niño system pounding California this winter, which is exactly what the state's depleted supply needs. However, the weather system could wreak havoc on the state’s construction industry.
"We're getting more and more attentive to the projections," said Tom Holsman, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of California.
Holsman says California is normally a great place to build, because it’s one of the few places where it's possible to work year-round. But that changes during an El Niño year.
“An El Niño means soil conditions are damaged because of the storm, so delivery of materials and workers ability to go to work – those things will be hobbled,” said Holsman.
NOAA researchers estimated the total U.S. economic impact of the last major El Niño in 1997 to be around $25 billion, but for the construction industry El Niño also has a strong upside.
An American Meteorological Society study published in 1999 found the U.S. construction industry gained around $500 million in business after the storm, which was certainly Holsman's experience; All those damaged buildings need someone to fix them.
“While the work may stop one day, it becomes much more intense following the storms," Holsman said.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
