CALIFORNIA, USA — California is calling on the White House to issue an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration as it withstands a seemingly endless siege of rain and wind.
The California Office of Emergency Services said it was early action to support the state amid the series of atmospheric river storms.
“California is taking early aggressive action to bring resources and federal support to protect our communities,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward. “Our strong partnership with the federal government continues to serve as a force multiplier in aiding Californians.”
Officials say the state has been pummeled by seven atmospheric river storms since Christmas, toppling trees and even flooding Highway 99. A climatologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting the ongoing storms in California could be the first billion-dollar storm of 2023 in the U.S.
The heavy winds and seemingly endless rain has also caused at least 18 fatalities so far.
Two homeless people in Sacramento County, killed by a falling trees, and 3 others were found dead after relentless New Year's Eve storms. Another death was Edgar Castillo, an Elk Grove contractor who lost his life responding to the storm crisis trying to restore power to Mendocino County.
Officials said the storms have also strained and overwhelmed local, tribal and state resources due to compounding impacts from the storms. The state has received local emergency proclamations from a majority of its 58 counties.
The White House recently issued Presidential Emergency Declarations for California and multiple counties throughout the state to help with the storm response effort.
