According to the Climate Prediction Center of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, there is a greater than 95 percent chance of a strong El Niño lasting through the 2015/16 winter season -- typically bringing with it sustained periods of heavy rainfall. Culver City has created a plan to guide the community as to how to prepare for the impacts of El Niño in addition to outlining the City’s strategy in response to the storms. You can read the whole plan HERE, but here are some important highlights

Checklist for Property Preparedness:
1. Yard Clean-Up: Make a general inspection of your entire yard area for yard debris, outdoor furniture or other objects that could be blown by storm winds. Securing loose items to the ground or removing and storing them indoors may prevent having to collect these items from your roof or from your neighbors’ yards.
2. Drains and Gutters: Make sure all drains and gutters are cleared of debris and are functioning properly before the storm season. If buildings do not have gutters and drains, consider having them installed.
3. Roofs: Inspect your roof (or hire a roofing contractor) to check for loose tiles, loose shingles, or to look for holes or other signs of trouble that indicate your roof may need immediate repair.
4. Retaining Walls: Visually inspect all retaining wall drains, surface drains, culverts, ditches, etc. for obstructions or other signs of malfunction before the storm season as well as after each storm event.
5. Slopes: Visually inspect all sloped areas for signs of gullying, surface cracks, slumping etc. Also inspect patios, retaining walls, garden walls, etc. for signs of cracking or rotation. Such signs might be indications of slope movement; if you notice any problems, it would be wise to have the site inspected by a geotechnical
engineer. 
6. Bare Ground: Make sure your yard does not have large bare areas which may be a source for mudflows during a storm event. Put down mulch and establish many native plants to vegetate these bare areas before the storm season.
7. Storm Drains: Visually inspect nearby storm drains during storm events; if obstructed, clear the material from the drain, or request that the City’s Public Works Department clear the obstruction, by calling 310-253-6420.
8. Tree Trimming: Trim trees and landscaping as needed to ensure that branches and limbs are clear of your structure, driveway and overhead power lines (Contact your power company -- Southern California Edison or the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to trim trees that have grown over or around power lines on
your property).

Emergency Plan
Prepare an emergency plan and build a disaster supply kit (for more information, go HERE.) Remember that landlines and wireless cell phone towers may not be operational or may be busy during a disaster and it may be easier to call long distance, so designate an out-of-state friend or family member as a “check-in-contact” for everyone to call to give an update as to their whereabouts and status. In order for this emergency/disaster communication plan to work, your loved ones need to know who your “check in-contact” is and your “check-in-contact” must know that he/she has been designated as such. For more information visit the above referenced website.
1. This El Niño season is predicted to bring periods of long, recurrent storms that may make it difficult to run your everyday errands. Make sure you have an adequate supply of food, water and medicine on hand so you don’t have to leave home during a storm to replenish your supply.
2. Stock up on pet food and medicine, and make sure pet ID tags are up to date.
3. Register your cell phone, email, and/or office number with the City’s emergency alert system (Nixle) by visiting www.nixle.com. By registering, you will receive timely information regarding emergency notices in the manner you desire.
4. Sign up with Alert LA to receive emergency notifications from the County of Los Angeles.
5. During a disaster, first responders may have other priorities that may delay their ability to get to you and your neighborhood. The City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are trained to provide assistance to the community during a disaster. Consider registering with CERT (HERE) to learn more about disaster preparedness, first aid skills and to be trained as a responder for your neighborhood. 
6. Contact your elderly neighbors to see if they need any assistance with their El Niño preparations.
7. Avoid visiting flood control channels during severe storm events. Even though the Ballona and Centinela flood control channels, along with their tributaries are designed to handle large volumes of storm water runoff, water may suddenly overflow their banks during severe rain storms that occur over an extended period.

These are pretty interesting, too: Potential drainage areas of concern: