Storm Hits Southern California with Fury: Floods, Evacuations, and More Rain Ahead
#storm #california #weather_disaster #floods #emergency_preparedness
Storm Hits Southern California with Fury
A powerful New Year's Day storm unleashed heavy rain across Southern California, flooding highways and prompting swift rescues. The rare January 1 downpour dumped over an inch in downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena, closing the 5 Freeway in San Fernando Valley and Big Tujunga Canyon Road due to mudslides. In San Diego, fire crews saved a man and his daughter from fast-moving waters engulfing their Jeep, while Pacific Coast Highway shut down in Huntington Beach from Warner to Seapoint.
Ongoing Threats and Preparations
Evacuation warnings linger for millions amid flash flooding and debris flow risks in burn scar areas. Cal OES prepositioned fire and rescue teams under the Governor's orders. The wet season has already brought 11.64 inches to L.A., far above normal, dampening Rose Parade crowds who braved ponchos and umbrellas.
More Rain on the Horizon
Relief is brief; light rain returns Friday with stronger storms over the weekend, potentially 2-3 inches more through Tuesday. Southeasterly gusts up to 40 mph threaten coastal flooding alongside king tides. Residents should monitor updates, secure properties, and avoid low-lying roads as the parade of wet systems continues into early 2026.
About the Organizations Mentioned
Cal OES
**The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)** is a cabinet-level state agency tasked with coordinating emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and homeland security for California's 38 million residents amid risks like wildfires, earthquakes, floods, droughts, public health crises, and cybersecurity threats.[1][2][5] Established by AB 38 in 2008, Cal OES superseded the prior Office of Emergency Services and Office of Homeland Security, consolidating functions under the Governor's Office per California Government Code Sections 8585-8589.7. It succeeded the California Emergency Management Agency and operates as a law enforcement entity eligible for criminal intelligence, with a director overseeing proactive hazard mitigation, including the state-approved Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.[1][3] Cal OES excels in crisis management, administering $2.1 billion in grants, training 27,917 fire responders, flying 522 FIRIS missions, and handling 11 open federal disasters. It managed 2008's 6,200 wildfires (1.6 million acres across 28 counties), 2018's Camp and Woolsey Fires (35 resource requests in two weeks), 2020's record 8,000 wildfires (3.6 million acres in 57 counties), and daily 150-request COVID-19 responses across all 58 counties—scaling operations innovatively with tools like Salesforce for intuitive public interactions.[2][4] Today, Cal OES drives goals to anticipate threats, enhance prevention, and bolster planning/resources via branches like Grants Management, Hazard Mitigation, Fiscal Services, Human Resources, and Procurement—ensuring compliance, budgeting, recruitment, and supply stockpiles.[1][3] Its public data hub offers GIS layers for situational awareness, while Wireless Emergency Alerts deliver lifesaving info statewide.[4][6] For business and tech audiences, Cal OES stands out as a tech-forward "defensive line," leveraging scalable systems amid Californi
