Officials try to figure out how to prevent Salinas River flooding before El Niño hits.

Two heavy storms in 1995 fueled by El Niño led the Salinas River to overflow, causing extensive flooding and thousands of residents to be displaced. Countywide, damage was estimated at $250 million.

The aftermath of those storms are now coming into focus as scientists say weather conditions are lining up in ways not seen before.

Salinas officials admit they are not prepared to deal with the potentially devastating consequences – mainly because of the poor upkeep of the Salinas River and local creek levees, which city officials say were not constructed to flood standards and have not been properly maintained for eight years.

The Monterey County Farm Bureau held a private meeting with county, federal and state officials on Sept. 18 to review the Salinas River flood-prone areas and the economic impact if it floods.

The potential damage this time around is estimated to exceed $1 billion.

“We want community preparedness. We’ve flooded in the past,” Salinas Fire Chief Ed Rodriguez says. “I’ve always believed that those who don’t learn from history can be doomed to repeat it.”

To reduce the likelihood of flooding, riverbanks need to be cleared of undergrowth that currently blocks the high-flow section of the river near Chualar and Gonzales. But farmers and landowners first need to go through an arduous permit process approved by the Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.

With a permit, a small portion of the upper river has been cleared, but water can still hit clogged areas near King City.

If the river floods, it could devastate the distribution of winter crops nationwide, as farming would halt for a minimum of three months while scientists ensure no pathogens are present in the fields as part of federal regulations.

“If we can’t farm, that would impact the availability of jobs,” says Norm Groot, executive director of the farm bureau.

Alec Arago, who represents Congressman Sam Farr, says there is not much federal officials can do in time for the potential storm without having applications submitted by Salinas or the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.

Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter says he is in constant communication with state and federal officials, but Arago says this issue came onto the city’s radar just weeks ago.

A permit to clear the entire river will be submitted in December; approval is not guaranteed. If approved, clearing would start at the earliest in October 2016 – months after El Niño blows away.