UNITED STATES. California: US President Joe Biden declared an emergency in California as storm systems are set to hit the state, bringing even more heavy flooding to already waterlogged regions.
According to a statement released by the White House, Joe Biden “announced that a major disaster existed in the State of California and authorised Federal help to supplement State, tribal, and local efforts to recover in the areas affected by severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.”
At least 19 people have lost their lives to the natural disaster. The National Weather Service issued warnings for the regions most north of San Francisco Bay, including Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.
Currently, an evacuation order is in place for the residents of the Wilton area in semi-rural, southeast Sacramento County. The concerned authorities introduced the threat of flooding from the Cosumnes River.
In another statement, the White House said, “The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Merced, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz.”
Additionally, the government aided funding for the relief program, “Federal funding also is available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Merced, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz.”
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions that transport most of the water vapour outside the tropics.
When a landslide occurs in the river, it usually releases vapour in the form of rain and snow.Briefing the current scenario, the University of California Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab reported that the snowpack is deep, with 10ft (3m) of snow already on the ground.
The natural emergency left 68,000 customers deprived of electric power across the state, with 21,000 customers experiencing power outages.
More than three people have been killed after trees fell directly upon them, while others were overtaken by powerful floodwaters or found dead in or near vehicles.
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