Parts of California are still under water, roads are blocked by mud and rubble, teams are coming to help those affected – but according to initial estimates, the sunny state got off lightly after the passage of Pacific tropical storm “Hilary”.
So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported, Brian Ferguson, spokesman for the California Civil Protection Agency, said on Monday, according to the New York Times. The preparations and warnings in advance of the storm had paid off.
Record-breaking rainfall
“Hilary” had brought torrential rain to the southwestern United States on Sunday. Southern California with its million metropolises San Diego and Los Angeles was hit particularly hard. The storm, which is rare for the region, flooded roads and toppled trees and power lines. Record-breaking rainfall was recorded in several locations. As a precaution, the authorities had ordered schools, parks and other facilities to be closed.
“Hilary” first made landfall in Mexico. According to media reports, at least two people died there. From California, the storm moved northeast. The foothills could still cause flooding in the northern Rocky Mountains, the US Hurricane Center warned yesterday.
Not a full all clear
In California and the neighboring state of Nevada, there has not yet been a complete all-clear. In the desert city of Palm Springs, almost 200 kilometers south-east of Los Angeles, some roads were closed yesterday. At times, an important highway in the region was completely blocked due to storm damage.
In the neighboring town of Cathedral City, a retirement home was surrounded by mud, the broadcaster CNN reported. Helpers would have gotten at least a dozen people out of there. Thirteen homeless people were rescued from a river bed in the San Diego area on Sunday evening.
Death Valley National Park in the US state of California, known for its heat records, recorded unusually heavy rainfall on Sunday. The park administration posted videos of mudslides and damaged roads. “Hilary” brought as much rain in 24 hours as usual in the entire year, it said. Around 400 tourists and residents in the park would have to stay in accommodation until the roads were passable again. The nature park is closed until further notice.
