DEATH TOLL RISES TO THREE AS ‘BIBLICAL’ STORMS UNLEASH TORRENTIAL RAINS AND MUDSLIDES ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- State of emergency declared in multiple counties, including Los Angeles, as torrential rains cause widespread flooding and mudslides
- At least three people killed in storm-related incidents, with authorities warning of more extreme weather to come
- Thousands trapped in homes, with roads turned into rivers and power outages affecting over 120,000 people
Christmas has been turned into a nightmare for thousands of Californians as a series of “biblical” storms pummeled Southern California, unleashing torrential rains, mudslides, and flash floods that have left at least three people dead.
State authorities have declared a state of emergency in several counties, including Los Angeles, as the region struggles to cope with the devastating impact of the storms. The torrential rains have caused widespread flooding and mudslides, with entire roads turning into rivers and thousands of people trapped in their homes.
In the midst of the chaos, a San Diego man was killed by a falling tree on Wednesday, while a person trapped inside a vehicle died in rising waters as flooding overwhelmed parts of Redding on Sunday. The storms have also brought a high risk of debris flows in waterlogged areas scorched by wildfires in January, which have been stripped of vegetation and are less able to absorb water.
In the mountain town of Wrightwood, a major mudslide rescue operation was underway as county firefighters worked to save people trapped in cars when mud and debris rushed down a road leading into the town. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation warning for Wrightwood due to the risk of mudslides, with roads in the town of about 5,000 people covered in rocks, debris, and thick mud.
Residents in the area have been left reeling, with many describing the scene as “apocalyptic.” “It’s really a crazy Christmas,” said Jill Jenkins, who was spending the holiday with her 13-year-old grandson, Hunter Lopiccolo. “We just played card games all night with candles and flashlights.”
As the storms continue to batter the region, forecasters are warning of more extreme weather to come, with a major storm system moving towards the Midwest and Northeast and expected to interfere with travel. A mix of freezing rain and sleet could create icy conditions across much of Pennsylvania and parts of Michigan and Maryland, with significant ice accumulation on tree limbs and power lines causing outages.
Heavy snow is expected to blanket the Northeast early Friday, with areas along the coast, including Malibu, under a flood watch until Friday afternoon, and wind and flood advisories issued for much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.
With more rain on the way, authorities are bracing for the worst, with over 150 firefighters stationed in the area. “We’re ready,” said San Bernardino County Fire spokesperson Shawn Millerick. “It’s all hands on deck at this point.”