State of emergency declared in SoCal as evacuation orders, warnings in effect due to storm

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.

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