Marines



El Niño is a weather pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. The fluctuation of two to three degrees Celsius occurs every two to seven years and has important consequences for weather and climate over the United States, particularly during winter. El Niño in general fuels wetter and cooler than average conditions across much of the South, and drier and warmer conditions in many of the northern regions. El Niño conditions can develop as early as May or June and reach maximum strength during December. The results of individual El Niño events vary, so it is crucial to monitor your local weather forecast and to enroll in the Enterprise Mass Notification System (eMNS) for important updates.

  1. Stay informed: ALL Marines (active duty and Reserve), civil service, and contractor personnel with a NIPR computer account—verify and update official contact information populated in the Marine Corps Enterprise Mass Notification System (eMNS) by information found in the Global Address List (GAL), and self-register all cell phones, home phone, email addresses, etc. in eMNS. Registration of personal information enhances Marine Corps Installations’ ability to rapidly provide emergency information and changes to the base’s operating status during non-working hours and wherever you are.
  2. Familiarize yourself with and prepare for possible impacts of El Niño: 
  3. Make a written family communication plan.
  4. Make an evacuation plan as a family.
  5. Take steps to protect your important documents.
  6. Consult your insurance agent and make sure you are covered in the event of flooding or landslide. Debris flow may be covered by flood insurance policies from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) www.floodsmart.gov.
  7. Build an emergency kit to sustain you and your family during an El Niño-related event.



Set your own course through any hazard: stay informed, make a plan, build a kit. Live Ready Marine Corps.