You’ve seen Paramount’s “Super El Niño” notice and want to know what to do around your home. Start with the city’s practical steps: clear gutters and drainage areas, secure outdoor items, prepare an emergency kit and sign up for alerts. Confirm sandbag distribution with the city before heading to a pickup location.
The notice calls for preparation for possible storms. It doesn’t guarantee heavy rainfall in Paramount or establish that sandbags are available today.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What does “Super El Niño” mean for Paramount?
A Super El Niño is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can increase the chance of wetter weather in Southern California.
The City of Paramount explains this in the city’s page, “Super El Niño: What It Means for Paramount,” posted October 14, 2026. The term does not describe a massive storm.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, reports a very strong El Niño is likely during fall and winter 2026 to 2027, according to the city’s page. That is the city’s account of NOAA’s outlook.
The uncertainty is whether Paramount will receive heavy rainfall. The city says the climate pattern does not guarantee it. A Super El Niño also does not mean heavy rain every day. You can act on the preparation guidance without treating the notice as a forecast for a particular storm.
What should you check around your home?
You should clear leaves and debris from gutters, keep drainage areas around your home clear and secure outdoor items.
Those are the city’s resident preparation steps. Start with the places the notice names: your gutters and the drainage areas around the property.
The city also recommends an emergency kit containing:
- Flashlights and backup batteries.
- Food and drinking water.
Keep the distinction between a home task and a city report clear. Clearing leaves from your gutters follows the resident guidance. Noticing a clogged street storm drain calls for contacting the city through its Public Works reporting options.
If you’re also preparing a property for sale, you can read the pre-listing inspection guide.
What is the city doing about storm drains and trees?
The city says it is clearing catch basins for storm drains, trimming trees, increasing sandbag availability and coordinating with LA County safety partners.
Its page also says an emergency preparedness team is on standby. These are the actions the city identifies in its notice. They sit alongside the steps residents can take around their own homes.
The reasons for preparation are concrete. The city lists flooded streets and overwhelmed storm drains among the possible effects of heavy rain. It also names fallen trees from saturated soil and strong winds, plus road hazards and difficult driving conditions.
The notice does not identify particular properties or neighborhoods as more exposed. Use it for the citywide preparation and reporting guidance it provides, without drawing a conclusion about an individual home’s flood conditions.
How do Paramount’s sandbag distributions work?
Sandbags are made available during designated distribution periods, typically ahead of wet weather, and you should confirm with the city before going.
Proof of Paramount residency is required. The limit is ten bags per household. When distribution periods are active, the city’s page lists these typical pickup locations:
- Paramount Park, 14400 Paramount Blvd.
- Paramount Sheriff’s Station, 15001 Paramount Blvd.
The page says you can fill your own bags with sand at those locations and asks you to bring your own shovel. The addresses are not confirmation that distribution is active.
LA County Public Works also maintains a sandbag location list. Paramount’s own page remains the source for the city’s stated residency requirement, household limit and typical local pickup locations.
We helped a Paramount homeowner whose driveway slopes toward the garage. He had used makeshift barriers during a previous storm and wanted to prepare properly before the next heavy rain. We went through the city’s storm-preparation information so he knew the sandbag rules before he actually needed them.
How should you report a clogged drain or flooding?
You should contact the city through its General Service Request or the phone numbers listed on the storm preparation page.
The page gives two numbers with different uses:
- Regular business hours: (562) 220-2020.
- After-hours non-emergency: (562) 220-2002.
The city invites reports of clogged storm drains, flooding and other Public Works concerns. Its online General Service Request is another reporting option.
Keep those uses attached to the numbers when you save them. The after-hours number is expressly identified as non-emergency.
Reporting a street drain concern is a separate step from clearing drainage areas around your home.
How do alerts and street sweeping fit into preparation?
You can sign up for city emergency alerts by texting “90723” to 888777, and street sweeping will typically run normally unless rain is severe.
The city says it will notify the public on social media, Nixle and its website if that changes.
For driving, the instruction is direct: never drive through flooded streets. The city identifies road hazards and difficult driving conditions as possible consequences of heavy rain.
For related reading, see the Learn guides on Irvine storm preparation and Yorba Linda storm preparation. Use Paramount’s notice for the local phone numbers, alert signup and distribution details discussed here.
The short version
You should prepare your home, save the city’s reporting contacts and confirm sandbag distribution before making a pickup trip.
Clear gutters and drainage areas. Secure outdoor items and assemble the emergency kit the city recommends. Text “90723” to 888777 for alerts. Report clogged drains or flooding through the General Service Request or the appropriate city phone number.
You can prepare now even though heavy rainfall is uncertain.
If you’re thinking of selling and want to check what your home is worth, try the home value tool.
Common questions
Does a Super El Niño guarantee heavy rain in Paramount?
No. The city's page describes a Pacific Ocean climate pattern that can increase the chance of wetter weather in Southern California. It does not guarantee heavy rainfall in Paramount.
Are sandbags available in Paramount right now?
The page does not establish current availability. Sandbags are offered during designated distribution periods, typically ahead of wet weather. Confirm with the city before going.
What are Paramount's sandbag pickup requirements?
Proof of Paramount residency is required, with a limit of ten bags per household. The city lists typical pickup locations during active distribution periods and says to bring your own shovel.
How do you sign up for Paramount emergency alerts?
Text '90723' to 888777.
Where should you report a clogged storm drain?
Use the city's General Service Request, call (562) 220-2020 during regular business hours, or call the after-hours non-emergency line at (562) 220-2002.
