Quick version: NOAA gives this winter a 98% chance of a "very strong" El Niño through December, and the state already declared an emergency. That doesn't mean months of nonstop rain. It means the odds of big storms, king-tide flooding and power outages are way up, so it's worth getting set now before stores sell out and prices jump.

There are no affiliate links in this email, it’s just a reminder to start stocking up now.

Heads up: sandbags are meant to steer water away from doors, not build a wall. The LA Times says to stack them in rows outside the opening, no need to tie them.

Poshmark and Mercari are worth a look. Search Poshmark and Mercari for kids' rain boots and jackets by brand name (Bogs, Patagonia, Hatley, Oaki) plus your kid's size, and you'll usually find barely-worn stuff for a fraction of retail. Some of it is new with tags. Filter by condition, check the seller's photos for cracked rubber or peeling seams, and remember shipping takes a few days, so shop before the first storm. Same trick works for headlamps, lanterns and even power stations, just ask the seller if it still holds a charge.

Skip the pile of disposable batteries if you can. Rechargeable is cheaper over a whole season anyway.

If cell service is spotty, a NOAA weather radio still works.

For keeping phones, a baby monitor, a white noise machine or a small fan going.

Charge everything before a storm watch, not during. Outage maps: LADWP for Venice, Playa and most of the city (1-800-DIAL-DWP), and SCE for Santa Monica, Culver City and Marina del Rey.

LA County says to store 1 gallon per person per day for 7 to 10 days. A family of four is looking at 28 to 40 gallons. That's more than a few cases of bottles, so containers make sense.

Rain barrels are the sneaky good one. They catch roof runoff so less goes where you don't want it, and you get free garden water. LADWP has a rain barrel rebate, and Santa Monica's rebate is up to $200 per barrel.

Toss in a few things no kit includes: a phone charging cable, some cash, snacks your kids will actually eat, a deck of cards and a comfort item.

The splurge: Preppi's Prepster. If Judy was the cute one, Preppi's Prepster is the fancy one. It's made right here in LA, in a metal-framed canvas and leather bag nice enough to leave out in the living room. It's also $595, marked down to $495 for National Preparedness Month.

What you get: supplies for 2 people for 3 days, including water packs and coconut shortbread ration bars that last up to 5 years, a solar and hand-crank NOAA radio that charges your phone, a 50+ piece first aid kit, a headlamp, a flashlight, a multi-tool, ponchos, space blankets, N95-style masks and a tube tent. Then there's the extra stuff: Malin+Goetz soap, Marvis toothpaste, Kusmi tea, a Field Notes notebook, playing cards and a stainless steel hip flask.

Is it worth it? For most families, no. A lot of that price is the bag and the brand names. It also only covers 2 people for 3 days, and LA County suggests a week or more of water, so a family of four would still need to add more. But if you know you will never build a kit yourself, and a nice-looking bag is what gets it out of the garage and next to the door, it does the job. Otherwise, use the contents list as a free checklist and build your own.

The drain on your corner full of leaves and trash is the thing that floods your block. You can report it, and it's worth doing before the first storm, not during.

Tips that make your report actually get handled:

Takes two minutes, do it tonight.