Parts of Southern California and the southwestern United States faced the threat of flash floods and landslides on Monday (21) after Storm Hilary brought record rainfall overnight.
About 17 million Americans were under flood and high wind alerts as the remnants of the hurricane moved north, dumping heavy rain from the California-Mexico border to Las Vegas and parts of the Northwest.
One of the hardest-hit communities was Palm Springs, California, where video footage posted on social media showed completely flooded streets. Mayor Grace Garner told CNN that the city’s 911 emergency system was disrupted by the storm.
“Right now, we have flooding on all our roads. There is no way in or out of Palm Springs, and this is also the case for most of the Coachella Valley. We are all trapped,” she said during an interview with the network.
A steady rain fell on Monday morning in many parts of the region, where record rainfall had already been recorded. Hilary was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone overnight after forming in the Pacific as a hurricane.
Some mountainous and desert areas could see total rainfall accumulations of 12 to 25 cm.
Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States, experienced flooded streets and downed trees and power lines in some neighborhoods, authorities said on Monday.
Rain was expected to slowly dissipate throughout the morning in Southern California, but officials warned residents not to let their guard down, as flooding in hazardous areas could destroy roads and inundate neighborhoods.
About 400 flights in and out of Southwest airports were canceled or delayed on Monday morning, including 100 landings and takeoffs from San Diego International Airport, according to Flightaware.com.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for much of Southern California, while President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to deploy personnel and supplies to the region.
Source: Reuters