With temperatures already in the low to mid 90’s°F, we don’t need the calendar to tell us that Summer arrived on June 21.  What might surprise us, though, is the National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center’s summer forecast for an El Nino rainy cycle starting soon.

If you’re thinking, “. . . but, we just had an El Nino a couple of years ago.”  You’d be right because the years 2023-24 were a moderate El Nino cycle.  The NWS says that this year’s 2026-27 El Nino has a 63-percent chance of being a powerful or even super cycle event.  Severe El Nino cycles have led to significant wind, rain, flooding and mud slides in Southern California.

That’s why at Helfrich Associates we are suggesting homeowners and commercial property owners review their maintenance checklists now rather than waiting until the storm clouds appear. Once the rain starts and flooding occurs, it is often too late to take preventative action. If you know you have roof or drainage problems, tilting block walls, etc., let us help you protect your property.

After a disaster, property owners or insurance companies will often contact us to review claims and offer repair solutions.  That being said, our experience with flood damage and insurance companies is that unless you have a flood insurance policy or engineering experts in your corner who know the difference between storm and flood damage, your claims might be a wash-out.  

If you own real estate or commercial property in the Southwest, you also know  heavy rain, flooding and mud slides can be catastrophic.  If your property is located in canyons, on hill-side lots or in low lying areas, now is the time to take preventative action to prevent damage from heavy rain storms that can be irrecoverable. In Southern California, your property can be washed away, literally gone or unbuildable.

For example, how is your roof looking?  Are there any sags or missing shingles or aging and cracked terracotta tiles or concrete tiles or composite or wooden shake shingles.  All roofing materials need replacing after 10 to 25 years.  Be sure to look for any water stains in the attic too before it leaks into insulation or the ceiling, damaging your living spaces below.

Check your interior window sills for leaks and dual-paned windows for broken seal moisture vapor. Resealing leaky windows and window sills also can prevent indoor water damage to sills, walls, floors, carpets, electrical and more.  When you’re inside, water is your enemy and belongs outside.

Have the ground drainage patterns changed underneath your roof line?  Do you have French drains or other ground level drainage systems that need periodic cleanouts to prevent blockages. Are there low spots in the backyard that fill up during every rain storm, big or small. Do you have tilting fences or block walls? 

At Helfrich Associates, we have decades of engineering experience to help homeowners and commercial property owners prevent property disasters or recover from them. We can definitely tell you from experience, both good and bad, that preventative maintenance is not only less expensive, but a lot less stressful.  Lost family photos, heirlooms, artwork, jewelry, books and other collectibles can be irreplaceable.  If your business is shutdown, how long can you survive?

Our team of engineering experts will come to your home or commercial property. We’ll assess any potential structural site and building issues and offer mitigating advice to prevent damage.  We are also experts in working with your choice of contractors who will make repairs or we’ll speak on your behalf with insurance adjustors when claims must be filed.