California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for most parts of Southern California, as Hurricane Hilary, currently a Category 2 hurricane, draws close. The declaration is intended to enable emergency response and recovery efforts.
According to a news release by Newsom, the hurricane is expected to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” to Baja California and the Southwestern U.S. Forecasters predict that the eye of the storm will make landfall in Southern California on Sunday evening, either as a weak Category 1 hurricane or a tropical storm. Rainfall amounts are projected to range from 2 to 10 inches.
Interestingly, the National Weather Service notes that no tropical storm has made landfall in Southern California since September 25, 1939. That storm resulted in the deaths of 45 people and an estimated property loss of $2 million.
In preparation for Hurricane Hilary and in a bid to mitigate its potential damage, Newsom’s state of emergency declaration has seen the deployment of more than 7,500 “boots on the ground.” This effort is to assist local communities with resources, equipment, and expertise.
As Newsom stated, “California has thousands of people on the ground working hand-in-hand with federal and local personnel to support communities in Hurricane Hilary’s path. We’re mobilizing all of government as we prepare and respond to this unprecedented storm.”