California Braces for Tropical Storm Hilary: Heavy Rain and Flooding Alert
Residents in the Southwest United States brace for heavy rains and potential catastrophic flooding as Hurricane Hilary approaches. The storm is forecasted to transition into a rare tropical storm on Saturday, with its impact extending into the coming week.
This event is historic: if Hilary hits California as a tropical storm, it’ll be the first such instance in nearly 84 years, as per data from NOAA. California responds by mobilizing rescue teams, National Guard personnel, and flood-fighting equipment in preparation for Hilary’s potential impact. Highway crews also stand by for road safety.
Southern California faces a high-risk situation due to excessive rainfall—an alarming Level 4 threat. Despite comprising under 4% of days annually from 2010 to 2020, these events caused 83% of flood damage and 39% of flood-related deaths, per Weather Prediction Center research.
Southern California Edison, a major utility, warns that Hilary’s impact could affect a substantial service area. Residents are advised to prepare with essentials like flashlights and chargers.
Human impact is a priority. Los Angeles and San Diego focus on homeless community outreach and shelter. LA County Sheriff’s Department uses aerial announcements for crucial information.
The storm also affects sports and entertainment: Major League Baseball and Soccer adjust schedules for safety.
Nevada Governor deploys 100 National Guard troops to high-risk areas. President Biden confirms FEMA’s preparedness for emergencies.
The Southwest United States watches as Hurricane Hilary approaches, invoking readiness and hope for minimal damage.
Rapid Preparations Underway in Southern California
Hilary’s potential landfall in California as a tropical storm could mark the state’s first occurrence of such an event in almost 84 years, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data.
Certain parts of Southern California face a significant risk of excessive rainfall—a rare Level 4 threat. Between 2010 and 2020, less than 4% of days had high-risk designations. However, these instances caused 83% of flood-related damage and 39% of flood-related deaths, according to Weather Prediction Center research.
Medano Beach in Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas as Hurricane Hilary nears the coast on August 18, 2023. – Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images © Provided by CNN
In response to the significant threat posed by Hurricane Hilary, California has made extensive preparations, including assembling water rescue teams, activating California National Guard personnel, and readying flood fighting equipment, as announced by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office on Friday.
To ensure roadway safety, highway maintenance crews will be on duty around the clock, as outlined by the governor’s office.
Southern California Edison, which provides electricity to over 15 million individuals in the region, indicated that Hilary’s trajectory is set to impact a significant portion of its service area. The company is gearing up to address potential power outages and advised residents to stock up on essential supplies such as flashlights, external battery chargers, and ice chests.
Given the heightened risk faced by the homeless community in terms of flooding hazards, both Los Angeles and San Diego authorities are conducting outreach efforts and providing temporary shelter. The LA County Sheriff’s Department is also mapping vulnerable encampments and issuing aerial announcements regarding the impending storm.
Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County emphasized, “We hope that the storm does not cause any damage, and more importantly there is no loss of life.” He added, “But we will prepare for a worst-case scenario, not only to assist people here in our county, but if we are not impacted or affected, we will become a resource to other neighboring counties as needed.”
San Diego has also been dedicating several days to cleaning storm drains, clearing streets, and ensuring equipment readiness, as noted by Mayor Todd Gloria on Friday.
The impending storm threat has led to adjustments in the Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer schedules in the region. Sunday games scheduled for the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres have been rescheduled as split doubleheaders on Saturday. Similarly, Major League Soccer matches involving LA Galaxy and LAFC that were set for Sunday have been postponed to later dates.
Contributions to this report were made by Mary Gilbert, Kevin Dotson, Andy Rose, and Taylor Romine from CNN.
