Hurricane Hilary Expected To Threaten California With Deep Floods; Evacuations Already Underway

Hurricane Hilary is expected to bring catastrophic floods in California after making a powerful landfall in Mexico over the weekend.

(Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)

According to the National Weather Service, flash floods have been issued in Los Angeles, Glendale, as well as in Santa Clarita.

This despite that Hilary had already weakened to tropical storm. Weather experts warned that Hilary was still packing winds of 80mph while approaching the southwestern United States.

So far, moderate to heavy rain continue to batter the eastern Santa Barbara county and Los Angeles county.

Evacuations

Authorities are already implementing evacuation measures, including residents from Baja California and in the mountains and foothills of San Bernardino county.

They warned that floods and landslides due to Hilary could be life-threatening, with the possibility that some desert regions could experience two to three years' worth of rain in the next three days.

Residents of affected places are advised to move to higher areas to ensure safety.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency advised the public to take the storm seriously and listen to the reminders of local officials. It said that Hilary would have serious impact and threats.

So far, more than nine million individuals, including those in downtown Los Angeles, have been place under flash flood warnings and these are expected to last through the late evening.

Weather analysts said that parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties could encounter up to 1.5 inches of rain dumped per hour.

Further, the storm is forecasted to dump three to six inches of rain, or even ten inches in some places.

The weather disturbance can also bring powerful and damaging winds that can cut off power supply for many residents.

Experts said that Hilary is considered as the first tropical storm to hit the south of the state in the last 84 years.

This phenomenon had extended a summer of extreme weather that experts are relating to the impacts of climate crisis.

Read Also: Hilary Strengthens to Hurricane: Major Flash Flooding Likely in Southwestern U.S., California

State of emergency

Governor Gavin Newsom already proclaimed a state of emergency for a large part of Southern California to support Hurricane Hilary response and recovery efforts.

Authorities continue to mobilize and coordinate resources in line with the storm's forecasted impacts.

"Hurricane Hilary is expected to prompt widespread evacuations and shelter-in-place orders; to threaten, damage, or destroy homes and critical infrastructure, including power and water lines, businesses, and roads; and to necessitate the deployment of search and rescue teams in areas impacted by significant debris flow," the declaration read.

Newsom said that all agencies of the state government shall utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.

Further, the governor advised all individuals to obey the direction of emergency officials as regards to this emergency in order to protect their safety.

Newsome also said that the California National Guard may be mobilized under Military and Veterans Code section 146 so that they can support disaster response and relief efforts, as directed by the Office of Emergency Services.

The personnel will also coordinate with all relevant state agencies and state and local emergency responders and law enforcement situated in the impacted areas.

Related Article: Final Storm in California Will Move Into the Four Corners Region [NWS]

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