Evacuation orders and warnings are in effect for portions of Southern California as the region braces for a
winter storm that’s expected to bring heavy rain and widespread flooding
.
“People need to start preparing now for a major flooding event,” National Weather Service forecasters warned.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for eight counties in Southern California – Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego and San Luis Obispo counties – as a series of winter storms begins impacting much of the state.
Newsom’s emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.
Due to heavy rain, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for central and western Los Angeles County that expires at 12:01 a.m. Monday.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Angelenos to stay home Sunday and Monday, and said the city has taken a range of preemptive measures, including placing the city’s Emergency Operations Center at Level 2.