RIORDAN ORDERS EL NINO ALERT MODE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

With dire warnings about the coming winter season and the impact of El Nino, Mayor Richard Riordan placed city agencies on alert Thursday to begin emergency planning and preparations.

``We must be prepared for a potentially severe winter,'' Riordan wrote to all city department heads. ``The predictions are that rain in September, October and November may be twice the normal levels and in January, February and March of 1998, rainfall could triple.''

Riordan's action comes nearly a month after the Daily News reported that Los Angeles' Public Works Department was not taking any special action in advance of the expected wet weather. In contrast, Glendale already has been getting an early start on cleaning up debris in basins and storm drains and has been in the process of prioritizing construction projects.

The article quoted experts as saying there is an increased likelihood of flooding because of El Nino and that people should be assessing their readiness.

El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmospheric conditions that generally lead to higher and warmer water levels in the western Pacific that can bring a dramatic increase in rainstorms to the West Coast.

Forecasters this year are predicting major storms throughout California as a result of El Nino, with the prospect for destructive flooding across the state.

Riordan instructed all department heads to meet with the city's Emergency Preparedness Division on steps that should be taken to meet any demand, as he expressed confidence in the city's ability to cope.

``The city of Los Angeles has demonstrated time and again its ability to rise to every imaginable challenge,'' Riordan said. ``I know that our city employees will once again do their best to protect the lives, livelihood and property of Angelenos in the event of any disaster.''

The mayor also urged residents to prepare for potential damage, particularly those living in flood-prone areas.

``We can never be too prepared for any emergency,'' Riordan said. ``The Northridge Earthquake taught us important lessons about the need to be prepared. Let us recall those lessons and make sure we're ready for any disasters that might come our way in the future.''