The strengthening El Niño poses significant risks globally, including severe droughts, flooding, and heightened hurricane activity, particularly in vulnerable regions. Historical parallels, such as the 1877 'Great Famine,' highlight the potential for widespread environmental and socioeconomic impacts. In the U.S., degraded forecasting capabilities due to interrupted ocean-monitoring systems could lead to less accurate disaster preparedness, increasing the likelihood of economic losses and threats to public safety. The absence of uninterrupted data streams could also affect fisheries management, which supports millions of jobs and billions in annual revenue.