Month: September 2026

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – California is officially under a statewide emergency as the state braces for what meteorologists and emergency officials warn could be an unprecedented, historic El Niño storm season.

With threats of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and catastrophic coastal erosion looming over the fall and winter months, state leaders are urging residents to prepare immediately.

However, emergency and insurance experts say that true storm readiness means protecting both your physical property and your financial safety net before the first raindrops fall.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) declared the statewide emergency this week, a tactical move designed to unlock state resources and give residents the window of opportunity needed to secure their homes.

“It does set up the conditions for strong rainfall events potentially towards the southern half of the state than you see in an average water year,” warned Laura Hollender, Deputy Director of Flood Management and Dam Safety.

Recent regional storm systems have already inflicted structural damage across the Valley. Officials emphasize that this upcoming winter season is projected to be far more severe, with some tracking models indicating a potential record-breaker.

“It could become the strongest El Niño on record so the concern is real,” said Caroline Thomas Jacobs, Director of the California Office of Emergency Services. “Storms are among the deadliest disasters that we face here in California, and one of the greatest dangers is still people underestimating the power of water.”

With the threat accelerating, consumer advocates say individual preparation is a homeowner’s primary line of defense.

Amrish Singh, Founder and CEO of California-based, Liberate, states that standard weekend maintenance is the most effective way to preempt thousands of dollars in structural damage.

“The number one thing I would suggest is spend an hour this Saturday or Sunday walking through your home,” Singh said. “Ensure that the drains are not clogged, that there are not any holes in the roof, that there aren’t any missing shingles, and to cover where there potentially might be damage that might happen.”

Physical maintenance is only half the battle. Singh notes that a significant number of Californians face catastrophic losses each year simply because they misinterpret their active coverage guidelines.

To prevent costly surprises after a natural disaster, homeowners must audit their paperwork immediately.

“Look at those policies…typically it’s called a declaration page,” Singh advised. “Look at the declaration page and check what is covered and what isn’t. For example, most standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding.”

If an audit reveals a gap in coverage, Singh stresses that residents must be proactive. Waiting until a storm is named or active is often too late, as many insurance providers implement binding restrictions or strict waiting periods before a new policy takes effect.

Some proactive steps every resident can take right now:

Audit the Declaration Page: Contact your insurance agent immediately to verify your exact coverages. Ask specific questions, such as whether your policy handles localized flooding, earth movement, or mudflows. Document Everything Digitally: Grab a smartphone and take exhaustive video and photo records of your home, apartment, car, floors, and valuable assets in their current, functional state. Detailed documentation is the single most critical asset if you ever need to file an insurance claim. Clear Key Drainage Zones: Ensure gutters, culverts, and property drains are entirely free of debris to redirect heavy water pooling away from your home’s foundation.

While coordinating home inspections and parsing through complex policy fine print may feel time-consuming and tedious, emergency coordinators emphasize that proactive planning remains the most cost-effective approach to surviving a severe winter season.

An hour of prevention this weekend is always cheaper than trying to rebuild later.

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Jessamyn Dodd

NILAND, Calif. (KYMA) – The family of Jeffrey Hartmayer has hired a private investigator as the search for the missing man enters its third week.

Hartmayer, 56, was part of a group that became stranded northeast of Niland. He was reported missing to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO) on September 6.

Hartmayer’s friend Jessi Delgadillo previously told News 11 that she believes Hartmayer is no longer alive.

Now, Bill Garcia, a private investigator, has joined the search, starting with Hartmayer’s trailer and belongings.

“We’re here at his home, at Jeffrey’s home and we’re documenting the location and some of his vehicles and other items, so they can hopefully remain secure during this time, until we find out what’s occurred to Jeffrey,” Garcia shared with News 11.

Hartmayer’s neighbors have been looking after his cat and belongings, while one of his neighbors, Donna Neideffer, drove out to the bombing range to try and search for him.

“I’m assuming he’s dead…because being out there in the without water after three days…and there’s so many places out there in that desert that…it’s unforgiving,” Neideffer expressed.

ICSO is asking anyone with information to come forward.

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Dillon Fuhrman

PHOENIX (KYMA) – AgTech said they are challenging the Arizona State Land Department’s (ASLD) cancellation of five agricultural leases on Arizona State Trust Land.

In a letter to ASLD Commissioner Robyn Sahid, AgTech‘s attorney, Stuart Kimball, said in part, “ASLD has violated the due process procedures and protections afforded by statute to our client before ASLD could terminate or cancel AgTech’s leases.”

“AgTech has consistently sought to comply with its leases and applicable state and federal requirements,” Kimball added. “The statutory process is straightforward: before a lease can be canceled for a curable default, the lessee must receive proper notice and an opportunity to cure. AgTech did not receive that notice before the September 10 cancellation letters.”

AgTech‘s leases were terminated earlier this month after ASLD conducted an inspection, where they found AgTech was not in compliance with its leases, prompting Commissioner Sahid to determine “that continued leasing of the land to AgTech LLC and related entities was not in the best interest of the State Land Trust,” the Governor’s Office said.

The Governor’s Office said AgTech has a 90-day period before they have to be off the land. The cancellation of the leases is immediate, but they have a few months to wind down their operations on those parcels of land.

To read the letter in full, see attached file.

Letter to Commissioner Sahid – 2026-09-24 15.09.15Download

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