California emergency officials bracing for storm and flooding
Sandbags, shelter supplies and first responders are ready for weekend atmospheric river
Thousands of “boots on the ground” and millions of sandbags were deployed across California this weekend as state officials help residents prepare for a deluge of rain with high winds expected to cause severe flooding, power outages, downed trees and landslides.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service anticipate that the most significant rainfall, damage and threat to life will likely hit the central and southern coastline, including the Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas. But Santa Cruz County's San Lorenzo River and Santa Clara County's Guadalupe River are expected to reach flood stage.
In anticipation of the statewide impact, Gov. Gavin Newsom has mobilized more than 8,500 emergency operations staff from California's policing, fire and transportation agencies, as well as the National Guard, according to Nancy Ward, director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
Besides 7 million sandbags, Ward said swift-water rescue teams, highwater vehicles, sheltering supplies for almost 40,000 people — such as food, cots, blankets and water — and other emergency response resources are pre-positioned.
Notably, she said her team also is planning to make cautionary calls to almost 2 million Californians in some of the most disaster-prone areas. The messages, which are in addition to standard emergency alerts, warnings and evacuation orders pushed to phones, posted on Calalerts.org and shared on social media, will be shared in English, Spanish, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Mandarin.
“These next storms are going to be impactful and dangerous,” Ward said during a news conference Saturday. “They pose a threat to our state and they're the most dangerous natural disasters that we have — killing more people from storm damages and flooding than wildfires every year.”
In Southern California, rain totals are expected to be up to 6 inches in Los Angeles — half the city's average yearly rainfall — and as many as 12 inches at higher elevations. Most Bay Area residents will see 2 to 3 inches of rain from late Saturday night through Monday morning, with 4 to 6 inches or more dumping on the Santa Cruz Mountains, North Bay hills and Big Sur.
Santa Cruz County warned Saturday afternoon that San Lorenzo River water levels are expected to surge to 3 feet above flood stage by noon today in Paradise Park and Felton Grove north of Santa Cruz. Both neighborhoods flooded in the severe storms of January last year and were put under evacuation orders. Ffire officials warned residents of low-lying areas such as Rio del Mar Flats and Soquel — which also flooded in January 2023 — to “prepare a go-bag in case of evacuation.”
The Guadalupe River that runs through San Jose in Santa Clara County was one of five locations that is expected to reach flood stage, according to Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources.
During the atmospheric river storms that soaked the region in January 2023, San Jose officials said the city narrowly avoided a slew of widespread damage from creeks topping their banks, but flooding still inundated communities farther south near Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
Nemeth said her team will update their flood forecasts every six hours, especially as 16 other river systems also may reach “flood monitor” stage. In the meantime, she said reservoirs across California already have started releasing water to make space for incoming precipitation.
This weekend, while Caltrans crews may preemptively block off some of the most at-risk roadways, residents are urged to postpone any nonessential travel until the storm passes. Officials reminded motorists that 6 inches of water can drown an adult, 12 inches of water can sweep away vehicles and 2 feet of water can move an SUV or truck.
Anale Burlew, chief deputy director at CalFire, implored residents to avoid unnecessary dangers.
“Is your life, the life of your loved ones or the life of our first responders worth driving in flooded waterways or not following evacuation guidance? The answer is no,” Burlew said.