California is currently experiencing the effects of a powerful atmospheric river, which has led to evacuation orders for nearly 27,000 people due to the risks of flooding and landslides.
In the Central Coast region, workers have been transporting truckloads of rocks to repair a broken river levee amidst ongoing rainfall and wind.
A website that tracks outages across the country, Poweroutage, revealed that more than 330,000 utility customers in central and northern areas have experienced power outages.
The Central Coast is bracing for more flooding, as the Pajaro River has swelled with runoff from last week’s atmospheric river. Fortunately, no deaths or missing persons have been reported due to the storm as of Monday.
However, the unincorporated community of Pajaro, known for its strawberry crops, has been heavily impacted by flooding.
Over 8,500 people were advised to evacuate, and approximately 250 individuals have been rescued since Friday.
While some residents chose to stay, many were forced to seek shelter as the water levels continued to rise.
One of the evacuees, Andres Garcia, described how the water levels had reached six to seven feet high, causing him to lose everything.
A shelter in the area was already at full capacity by midday on Tuesday, leading officials to open two additional shelters to accommodate the displaced individuals.
Meanwhile, a second 100-foot (30-meter) breach in the levee has opened closer to the Pacific coast, serving as a “relief valve” for the floodwaters to recede near the river’s mouth.
The river divides Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and several roads, including the main link between the two counties, Highway 1, have been closed due to the ongoing storm.
Evacuee, Andres Garcia said; “We live seven houses away from the river and the water level was six feet high, seven probably. So, we probably lost everything.”
A second 100-foot (30-meter) breach in the levee opened closer to the Pacific coast, providing a “relief valve” for floodwaters to recede near the mouth of the river, officials said at a news conference on Monday.
The river separates Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. Highway 1, a main link between the two counties, was closed along with several other roads.
