Mayor Bass Issues Declaration of Local Emergency to Mobilize Resources During Holiday Storm

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LOS ANGELES - Continuing the City's proactive and coordinated response to the holiday storm, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today issued a Declaration of Local Emergency to ensure the City has the required resources in the days ahead.

"Throughout the duration of this holiday storm, firefighters, police officers, public works crews, traffic engineers, recreation and parks staff, and the entire City family have worked to address impacts to keep Angelenos safe - from swift water rescues to removing downed trees and coordinating safe evacuations," said Mayor Bass. "We are making every resource and tool available to help facilitate this continued response effort, including a declaration of a local emergency that I signed to ensure that City teams have the required resources in the days ahead."

City crews continue to monitor and respond to impacts from the storm forecasted by the National Weather Service (NWS) to affect the L.A. region through Saturday, December 27, with peak rainfall anticipated through December 25, Christmas Day.

Read the full text of the emergency declaration below:

DECLARATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY

By virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.27 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, I hereby find the following:

WHEREAS, beginning on or about December 23, 2025, a series of powerful atmospheric rivers struck California, including the city and county of Los Angeles, and is expected to continue for multiple days; and

WHEREAS, high intensity rainfall on saturated soils will create a major risk for rockslides, mudslides, landslides, urban flooding, rapid rises in small streams, and significant river flooding, particularly urban/roadway flooding and rapid rises in local creeks and rivers across multiple counties; and

WHEREAS, the numerous wildfires over the last several years have caused massive burn scars, including the recent Palisades, Hurst, and Sunset burn scars, exacerbating the potential for heavy rain to cause dangerous mud and debris flows; and

WHEREAS, this weather system has caused, or is substantially likely to cause, extreme conditions such as power outages, damages to power poles, fallen trees, slope failures, numerous locations with substantial mud and debris flows and flooding, and red and yellow tagged structures; and

WHEREAS, as a result of the forecasted rain and thunderstorms, the National Weather Service has issued Flood Watch and Severe Thunderstorm warnings, with a chance of significant debris flows and water runoff; and

WHEREAS, in anticipation of the potential threats from flooding, debris flows, and other hazards attendant to heavy rainfall and winds that these storms threaten, the City of Los Angeles has pre-deployed and mobilized various resources throughout the City; and

WHEREAS, the City of Los Angeles Emergency Operations Center was activated on December 23, 2025 in response to this storm; and

WHEREAS, on December 24, 2025, as a result of the atmospheric river storm system, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed a Local Emergency in the County of Los Angeles and the Governor of California proclaimed a State of Emergency across California, including the Greater Los Angeles Area; and

WHEREAS, based upon the above events, by reason of its magnitude, and the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents and property of the City of Los Angeles, there exists the potential that these events are likely to become beyond the control of the normal services, personnel, equipment and facilities of the regularly constituted branches and departments of the City Government, and that such emergency conditions require the mobilization of mutual aid resources and the ability to coordinate a multiagency response.

NOW, THEREFORE, I HEREBY DECLARE the existence of a Local Emergency throughout the City of Los Angeles.

I HEREBY DIRECT the Emergency Operations Organization be immediately activated and take such steps that are necessary for the protection of life and property.

I FURTHER DIRECT that all City Departments impacted by this event, and its ongoing effects, continue to conduct damage assessments and collect any relevant cost estimates.

I FURTHER DIRECT that this Declaration of Local Emergency shall take effect immediately and that widespread publicity and notice shall be given said Declaration through the most feasible and adequate means of disseminating such notice throughout the City.

I HEREBY REQUEST that the Governor waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts; that recovery assistance be made available under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and that the State expedite access to State and Federal resources and any other appropriate disaster relief programs.

This Declaration of Local Emergency is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive, or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the City of Los Angeles, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.