US authorities are warning of “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” as Storm Hilary moves across northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. A state of emergency has been declared in several places.
In California, which is one of the states expected to be hit the worst, work is still underway to prepare for the storm. On Sunday evening, there were reports that a heavy rainstorm had moved in over the state and that parts of Los Angeles were flooded. Authorities are urging people to stay safe.
Parts of low-lying settlements in the state have been evacuated, while people themselves have begun to protect roads and homes by building embankments of sandbags. In several places in the state have people have been rescued from the water, reports CNN.
“Never seen anything like it”
Despite this, Californians are not prepared for the large amount of rain that is involved, continues Fouad Youcefi, SVT’s USA correspondent in Morgonstudion.
– No Californian has seen anything like this in their lifetime, he says.
Hilary was downgraded Sunday evening from a hurricane to a storm as winds reached only the equivalent of a weak storm. But several weather institutes, including the US hurricane center NHC, warn of the huge amounts of water that are expected, which could have catastrophic consequences.
– So far no one has died or been injured in the United States, but this is the beginning. In the next few hours, that may change, says Fouad Youcefi.
Hear Fouad Youcefi tell more about Storm Hilary in the clip above.