On Monday, a historically significant storm resulted in a record-breaking volume of rainfall in certain areas of Los Angeles.
This led to the descent of mud and boulders down hillsides, particularly affecting residences with high property values, while individuals residing in homeless encampments across the city hurriedly sought safety.
The power outage impacted over one million people throughout the state.
This storm, driven by an atmospheric river, marked the second occurrence within a matter of days.
Approximately 2.5 million individuals in the Los Angeles region, encompassing areas like the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, were placed under a flash flood warning.
The National Weather Service reported that up to 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain had already occurred, with additional precipitation anticipated.
The Service deemed the situation a “particularly dangerous” one, citing the imminent threat of flash flooding and mudslides.
LA Fire Department Battles Multitude of Emergencies
The Los Angeles Fire Department disclosed that 1,000 firefighters were grappling with 49 debris flows, 130 instances of flooding, six structural fires, and multiple rescues of motorists stranded in their vehicles.
Drake Livingston, a resident of the Beverly Crest neighborhood, recounted being alerted to the flooding while watching a movie around midnight.
Livingston described observing a foot-and-a-half of running water outside his residence, which subsequently began seeping through the doors. Despite efforts to salvage some belongings, Livingston eventually sought refuge in a neighbor’s house. By morning, Livingston discovered his car submerged under several feet of mud.
LA Mayor Urges Driving Caution Amid Hazards
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued a plea to residents to refrain from driving, citing the presence of fallen trees and electrical lines on inundated roadways.
In the Santa Monica Mountains, precipitation has surpassed the 10-inch mark (25.4 centimeters).
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley emphasized the persisting hazards in regions surrounding recent wildfire burn scars, emphasizing that rain is expected to persist through Tuesday.
According to the National Weather Service, downtown Los Angeles experienced a record-breaking rainfall of 4.1 inches (10.41 centimeters) on Sunday, ranking it as the 10th wettest day on record.
This quantity of rain exceeds the area’s typical monthly average.