Sept. 21 (UPI) — Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced Monday that he is declaring a state of emergency ahead of El Nino storm season, which is forecast to be one of the strongest on record.

In a statement, Newsom said the declaration will help with early statewide preparations for potential winter storms and related events, such as potential flooding and landslides.

“California is strongest when we look out for each other,” Newsom said. “That is what this action is about. Giving communities the support they need, giving first responders the tools to do their jobs and giving families the confidence that their state is ready.

“We are preparing for this El Nino early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community and protected when severe weather comes.”

El Nino is a natural climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration said. El Nino events can occur every two to seven years and are associated with wetter weather and increased flooding in certain areas, including California.

In Newsom’s proclamation, the governor said that California has experienced increasingly severe and destructive storms with widespread flooding, landslides, power outages and other associated events over the past few years. The proclamation also noted that climate change has intensified weather extremes.

The declaration allows state agencies to begin planning early for weather events, which can include preparing roads and other infrastructure, readying emergency supplies and taking measures to reduce flooding and landslide risks.

“Among the actions ordered, the emergency proclamation directed state agencies to lead the state’s flood-risk-reduction efforts, stage flood-fighting supplies such as sandbags and pumps and pre-position other critical equipment,” the statement from Newsom’s office said. “[The California Department of Transportation] will stage traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along the highways most at risk. The proclamation also prepares the California National Guard to support flood response, search-and-rescue, engineering and logistics missions when needed.”