Officials Across Regions Prepare for El Niño

Governments and utilities are preparing for El Niño’s potential effects, ranging from power shortages and drought to heavy rain and flooding. The Philippines’ Department of Energy projects occasional power alerts in Luzon and warns that delays to planned battery storage and power-barge capacity could increase shortages in the Visayas, while reduced rainfall could also constrain Mindanao’s hydropower. In Ilocos Norte, officials have set aside about PHP60 million for water-supply measures and farm support, including catchment systems, well drilling, fuel subsidies and drought-resistant crops. Cambodian officials have urged water operators to protect sources, strengthen coordination and modernize infrastructure to help secure supplies during possible droughts. In California, Arcata is urging residents to prepare for possible heavy rain, coastal flooding and outages, while San Diego says crews are clearing drainage systems, installing beach berms and monitoring conditions ahead of Tropical Storm Rachel.