Tents lined San Pedro Street and 14th Street near the industrial zone by the Java Market, as homeless residents reinforced tarps before LA’s second winter rainstorm on the 20th. At 11 a.m. on the 20th, the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory through the 21st, warning that heavy rain was imminent under a dark gray sky.
Homeless residents stretched plastic bags over tents and tied them with rope. These measures help temporarily, but they collapse when the rain intensifies. Moody Ko of Father’s Table said, “When it rains, water seeps into the tent, and clothes and blankets all get soaked. If body temperature drops, it can be fatal for homeless people who are vulnerable to illness.”
Nearby merchants in the Java Market district covered mannequins and installed tarps to protect displays from the storm. Mannequins are shielded from the rain, but homeless residents often rely only on thin plastic sheets.
Next to her tent, one homeless woman cooked food over a small fire. She said, “When it rains, I can’t light a fire. I make enough food before the rain starts so I can endure the whole day.”…