Since late December, California has experienced a series of storms that have affected the majority of its northern regions and Los Angeles after continuously experiencing droughts and drier weather all around. Experts call this dramatic turn of weather hydrological whiplash.

The storm has taken the lives of 20 people; its hurricane-like winds brought down trees and powerlines, leaving citizens stranded without power. Roads and streets were flooded with water and this was noticeably evident in the cities near the coast. Many communities were forced to leave their homes with more than 96,000 people being placed under evacuation orders. 34 million California residents were under flood watch which is about 90% of the state’s population and 10% of the North American population.

41 out of 58 of California’s countries declared an emergency which was approved by Joe Biden. Governor Newsom made sure that California used every resource to protect lives and minimize damage. Once calamity was present, the president came to visit Santa Cruz County to check on the aftermath of the intense storm. 

Floods kill more than any other natural disaster. On Sunday, California Emergency Services Director Nancy Ward said. “We’ve already had more deaths in this flood storm since December 31 than we had in the last two fire seasons of the highest fire acreage burned in California.” As the year progresses, the more extreme our weather has become, leaving many impacted citizens scared of what is yet to come.