Hurricane Hilary Approaches Southern California, Prompting Preparations for Potential Flooding and Destruction
As Hurricane Hilary approaches Southern California, states across the typically arid US southwest are racing to prepare for potentially life-threatening floods. The hurricane, which originated in Mexico, has already caused damage and claimed one life. Although its winds have weakened, Hilary is still sustained at a hazardous 90 miles per hour (145 kilometers per hour) with higher gusts.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the storm’s center will move close to the west-central coast of the Baja California Peninsula before crossing southern California. Heavy rains have already begun affecting portions of Baja California and the southwestern United States, with catastrophic and life-threatening flooding conditions highly likely.
In Mexico, the Civil Protection agency reported a significant rise in river and stream levels in Loreto and Mulege on Baja California’s east coast, where landslides and road closures have also occurred. Tragically, one person lost their life after a vehicle was swept away by a stream in Mulege.
In anticipation of the storm’s impact, residents and workers in the Mexican tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas have taken precautions by putting up protective boarding and filling thousands of sandbags. The beachfront restaurant where Omar Olvera works has been surrounded with sandbags for added protection while they wait for the weather conditions to worsen.
Currently categorized as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Hurricane Hilary is expected to weaken into a tropical storm before reaching Southern California and Southern Nevada. However, heavy rainfall and flooding remain a significant concern.
The Mexican government has deployed nearly 19,000 soldiers in the states most affected by the storm, and the federal electric utility has sent 800 workers and numerous vehicles to respond to potential outages. In the United States, the NHC forecasts rainfall amounts ranging from three to six inches, with isolated areas possibly experiencing up to 10 inches. The agency warns that dangerous to catastrophic flooding is expected as a result.
Nancy Ward, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, emphasizes that Hurricane Hilary could be one of the worst storms to hit the state in more than a decade. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed teams to the areas targeted by the hurricane, while Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for much of California’s southern region.
US President Joe Biden, who is currently at a rented vacation home with his family on Lake Tahoe, has been briefed on the preparations for the storm. The White House assures that safety is their top priority, and measures are being taken to respond effectively. Furthermore, both Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer have rescheduled games planned for Sunday in the affected region.
While hurricanes are a common occurrence in Mexico, they rarely strike California with significant intensity. Scientists warn that these storms are becoming more powerful as a result of global warming and climate change.
As Hurricane Hilary continues its path towards Southern California, authorities, residents, and tourists are doing their best to ensure safety and minimize the potential damage and destruction that this powerful storm may bring.
