California has been ravaged by devastating winter storms, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life in its wake. The state’s capital, Sacramento, was among the hardest hit, with fast-moving floods taking an unexpected toll on the city. The President, Joe Biden, has declared a major disaster in California, making federal aid available to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts.
The storms have been relentless, dumping heavy snow and rain on the state since late December. The National Weather Service warned that the flooding was expected to continue into Monday, with dry days not expected until Tuesday. Flood warnings were issued for several counties north and south of San Francisco Bay, including Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.
The tiny community of Felton Grove along the San Lorenzo River was ordered to evacuate, as were residents of the Wilton area in semi-rural south-eastern Sacramento County. The swollen Salinas River swamped farmland in Monterey County, while the Cosumnes River posed a threat to the area.
Governor Gavin Newsom visited affected regions, urging residents to be vigilant about safety for the next 24 to 48 hours. “This is just the eighth of what we anticipate will be nine atmospheric rivers – we’re not done,” he said. Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport water vapor, often leading to heavy rainfall and flooding.
President Joe Biden (Via Joe Biden/Twitter)The University of California Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reported receiving 21.3 inches of snow in the last 24 hours, with an additional 2-3 feet expected by Monday. Compared to Saturday morning, when over 68,000 customers were without power, 21,000 customers were experiencing power outages by Sunday morning.
The state has seen devastating losses, with at least 19 people killed. The Governor urged Californians to take the situation seriously, saying, “Make the necessary preparations. Floods, landslides, and storms don’t care who you are or where you live – it’ll hit you just the same. Take this seriously.”
Search and rescue operations were underway in central California after a five-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters near San Miguel. National Guard troops and law enforcement were working to locate the boy, who was last seen being pulled away from his mother.
The state’s residents are struggling to come to terms with the destruction and loss of life. The Governor’s words of caution echo through the affected communities, as authorities continue to respond to the disaster and residents begin the long process of recovery.