A rare tropical storm swept across the US west coast, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. Tropical Storm Hilary dumped historic amounts of rain and strong winds on the region, causing widespread flooding, downed trees, and cascades of mud and debris. The storm, which has largely cleared from California, still poses risks including further rainfall and mudslides.
Residents in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties were urged to stay home as schools and flights were canceled due to the unseasonal deluge. Tens of thousands of people lost power, and the Los Angeles Unified School District closed all campuses, citing safety concerns. Over 25 million people faced flood warnings, and officials issued evacuation advisories and orders for high-risk communities.
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency, mobilizing resources from southern California to the Central Valley. The state’s National Guard, office of Emergency Services, and Department of forestry and Fire Protection stationed crews ready to assist in emergency water rescues. Over 300,000 sandbags were issued to prepare for floods.
Communities in California’s desert regions were hit hard, with Palm Springs breaking its August daily rainfall record by more than an inch. Several cities experienced almost as much rainfall in a single day as they would typically get in an entire year. The city’s 911 emergency system was taken out by the storm, leaving residents stranded.
Southern California Storm SurgeVideos posted online showed streets in Las Vegas and Coachella being flooded, with cars struggling to navigate the roads. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue in parts of Nevada and southern California, where a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck on Sunday.
The White House offered federal support to California, and a state of emergency was declared in Nevada. Officials celebrated dodging a potential catastrophe, with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass saying, “The fact that it wasn’t a catastrophe that had been anticipated, we are very happy about.”
Tropical storms are rare off the US west coast, but scientists warn that events like this could become more likely due to human-caused climate change. Excessive ocean heat can supercharge storms and increase their rainfall capacity.
As the US navigates a summer of disasters and extreme weather, experts warn of the increasing severity of such events. The storm is the latest chapter in a string of disasters, including wildfires and floods, that have caused widespread devastation. Emergency management experts urge the creation of an effective emergency management system to address the growing threat of climate-related disasters.