What coastal homeowners should know as El Niño approaches

DANA POINT, Calif. — For homeowners along the coast, the question is no longer whether Southern California's beaches can be damaged by powerful storms. The question is what happens when the next one arrives.

That question has become increasingly urgent for residents of Dana Point and San Clemente.

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Earlier this month, powerful swells generated by Hurricane Marie stripped away sand along the Southern California coast, damaged homes in Dana Point and battered the San Clemente shoreline. Dana Point declared a local emergency after at least 16 beachfront homes were damaged, with several deemed unsafe for residents according to the OC Register. San Clemente followed with its own emergency declaration after waves damaged the pier, eroded coastal areas and affected nearby infrastructure.

Now, another storm is being watched.

Hurricane Polo, currently moving offshore of southwestern Mexico, is not expected to make landfall in Southern California. But forecasters are monitoring the possibility of large swells reaching the Southern California coast early next week, potentially bringing another round of dangerous surf and coastal impacts.

And behind Polo is a much larger concern: El Niño.

The state of California has declared a statewide emergency as the 2026-27 El Niño strengthens. The California Coastal Commission warns that the pattern can bring stronger storms, larger waves, coastal flooding and beach erosion, with rising sea levels potentially allowing those impacts to reach farther inland.

For homeowners, preparing for that possibility means thinking beyond sandbags.

The cost may extend far beyond the first storm

A damaged home does not necessarily mean a destroyed home.

But even when a structure can be repaired, the process can take time.

After a major storm, homeowners may have to deal with structural inspections, contractors, permits, insurance claims, temporary housing and repairs. Sometimes these issues have to deal with them while additional storms are approaching. In Dana Point, recent waves destroyed decks, tore through walls and flooded beachfront homes.

For a homeowner, that can create a difficult question: If my home is damaged tomorrow, where will I live while it is being repaired?

That is a question worth answering before the storm rather than after it.

Insurance is another question homeowners should ask now

Homeowners may assume that having insurance means their property is protected from whatever a storm brings.

That is not necessarily the case.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara urged residents this week to review their insurance policies before severe weather arrives. The Department of Insurance says standard homeowners and renters policies generally do not cover flooding, while flood insurance is available separately through the National Flood Insurance Program and private insurers (https://www.insurance.ca.gov/0400-news/0100-press-releases/release033-2026.cfm).

Homeowners should contact their insurance company or agent and ask specifically what their policy covers and what it does not.

Questions worth asking include:

• Is flooding covered?
• What types of water damage are covered?
• What is the deductible for storm-related damage?
• Is temporary housing covered if the home becomes uninhabitable?
• Are retaining walls, landscaping, decks or other exterior structures covered?
• Are there exclusions related to coastal erosion or earth movement?

The goal is not to predict whether a particular home will be damaged. It is to understand the financial consequences if it is.

There may not be much time after the storm

One of the biggest misconceptions about preparation is that homeowners can simply wait until bad weather appears in the forecast.

Some preparations take time.

The California Department of Insurance is warning residents considering flood insurance to pay attention to waiting periods. National Flood Insurance Program policies generally have a 30-day waiting period before coverage takes effect, although exceptions exist.

Property owners also may need permits before making certain improvements, particularly along the coast.

Dana Point officials are already encouraging residents to inspect roofs, retaining walls, foundations, slopes, drainage systems and other vulnerable areas before winter storms arrive. The city also advises residents to watch for standing water, seepage, saturated soil and new cracks that could indicate problems (https://www.danapoint.org/City-Government/Public-Safety/El-Nino-Preparation).

What homeowners can do this week

Preparation does not have to mean spending thousands of dollars.

It can begin with a walk around the property.

Check gutters and drainage. Look for areas where water collects. Inspect slopes and retaining walls. Check for cracks or signs of erosion. Secure outdoor furniture and other loose objects that could become dangerous during strong winds.

Take photographs and video of the property before the next major storm.

That documentation can provide a record of the home's condition before damage occurs.

Homeowners should also make sure important documents are accessible, including insurance policies, mortgage information, property records and photographs of valuable belongings.

And if evacuation becomes necessary, know where you would go.

The question to ask now

Nobody can say exactly how much damage the coming El Niño season will bring to Dana Point or San Clemente.

El Niño does not guarantee that every coastal neighborhood will flood or that every storm will produce severe erosion. The California Coastal Commission notes that the climate pattern increases the potential for stronger storms and coastal impacts, but individual storm conditions will vary.

But residents do know what has already happened.

Beaches have lost sand. Homes have been damaged. Roads and transportation infrastructure have been affected. Local governments have declared emergencies.

And there are potentially more storms ahead.

For homeowners, that makes this a good time to ask a simple question:

If the next storm is worse than the last one, am I prepared for what happens after the waves go back out?

The answer may be found not in what happens during the storm, but in what homeowners do before it arrives.