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Earthquake And Storm Hit California, People Are Forced To Climb Trees To Escape Floodwaters And Mudslides
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Earthquake And Storm Hit California, People Are Forced To Climb Trees To Escape Floodwaters And Mudslides

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Last week did not conclude as anticipated for the residents of Southern California. On Sunday, the region was dealt a double-whammy of natural disaster when an earthquake in Ventura County triggered widespread tremors on the same day as Southern California was hit by its first tropical storm in 84 years.

On Sunday afternoon, the US Geological Survey reported a 5.1 magnitude earthquake, centered 7.2 kilometers south-east of the central California city of Ojai, about 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Following the earthquake, several aftershocks with magnitudes up to nearly 4 were recorded in the area, with no immediate reports of casualties or substantial damage to buildings.

Tremors were noted in Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Santa Barbara, certain areas of LA’s San Fernando Valley, Malibu, Porter Ranch, Manhattan Beach, and other nearby spots.

Last night, Southern California was hit by a historic tropical storm before experiencing a 5.1 magnitude earthquake

Image credits: SDCaltrans

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However, the Ojai earthquake happened the same day that people were expecting tropical storm Hilary, which triggered devastating mudslides across Southern California roadways.”As soon as Tropical Storm Hilary’s path became clear, my Administration took immediate action to prepare: deploying personnel and supplies, and planning rapid response and search-and-rescue efforts,” President Biden announced on X on Sunday.

Tropical storm Hilary caused a flash flood in Seven Oaks within the San Bernardino Mountains. This event resulted in the collapse of the Santa Ana bridge as well as one reported casualty in the Mexican town of Santa Rosalia, on the peninsula’s eastern coast, when a vehicle was swept away in an overflowing stream.

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There have been at least three swift water rescues so far in Palm Springs.

The last time the region of Southern California experienced a tropical storm of such level was 84 years ago

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Image credits: Death Valley National Park

Within just a few hours, the region received nearly half of its annual average rainfall

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Californians were warned about a potential “life-threatening” flooding on Saturday evening

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The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has advised drivers in Los Angeles and Ventura to avoid using the roads due to “heavy rain and dangerous road flooding”. This caution was prompted by the rapid accumulation of up to 2 inches (5 cm) of rain within a span of two hours – nearly half of what the area averages over an entire year.

California Governor, Gavin Newsom, who has declared a local emergency, called it “the most significant rainfall over a 60-minute period any time in the history of Palm Springs.”

During Sunday afternoon, according to the Associated Press, Hilary was recorded with maximum sustained winds of 65mph (100km/h) while progressing in a northwest direction at 25mph (41km/h).

Due to perilous floodwaters and mudslides, individuals in California were compelled to seek shelter by climbing trees

Image credits: AEzenyili

Image credits: upuknews1

Image credits: DesertLoco

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Some, however, did the exact opposite of seeking refuge

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Image credits: DesertLoco

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Image credits: DesertLoco

Image credits: DesertLoco

Image credits: DesertLoco

Image credits: hataf_news

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Currently, there was only one reported casualty by flooding

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You can watch what the Southern California earthquake looked like in real time in the video below

Monday’s school closures have been confirmed for the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school system in the country. Additionally, other districts, including the adjacent Pasadena district, have also announced closures. However, schools are preparing to function as intended on Tuesday.

The last occurrence of a tropical storm hitting Southern California took place on September 25, 1939, killing nearly 100 people and causing monetary damage estimated to be around $2 million (the equivalent of around $44 million in today’s dollars).

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People on the internet keep sending their prayers to the ones affected by these natural disasters

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Ignas Vieversys

Ignas Vieversys

Writer, Community member

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Ignas is an editor at Bored Panda with an MA in Magazine Journalism. When he is not writing about video games or hunting for interesting stories, chances are that you will find Ignas at the movies.

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Ignas Vieversys

Ignas Vieversys

Writer, Community member

Ignas is an editor at Bored Panda with an MA in Magazine Journalism. When he is not writing about video games or hunting for interesting stories, chances are that you will find Ignas at the movies.

Justinas Keturka

Justinas Keturka

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I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

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Justinas Keturka

Justinas Keturka

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.

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eyelessonex avatar
Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mother Nature gently reminding us how easily it could wipe us out.

corrsfan2015 avatar
owenjarvis avatar
Owen
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I said in another post, sometimes humour is great coping mechanism when things go really bad. Not just for those guys, but for anyone that sees them.

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pipaj82259 avatar
Duolingobird
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live here, it wasn’t as bad here as it was there but it flooded most of the road and knocked my neighbor’s palm tree over. My neighbor’s are ok and my family is too all that was damaged was a few trees and some fences!

katehaslam avatar
SkyBlueandBlack
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, my rain gauge this morning was just under 4 inches, and it looks like the wind blew all the seed pods off our jacarandas, but that's it (Moreno Valley). Looks like Oak Glen got hammered again, though. Those videos of the mudslide there were intense.

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eyelessonex avatar
Corvus
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mother Nature gently reminding us how easily it could wipe us out.

corrsfan2015 avatar
owenjarvis avatar
Owen
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As I said in another post, sometimes humour is great coping mechanism when things go really bad. Not just for those guys, but for anyone that sees them.

Load More Replies...
pipaj82259 avatar
Duolingobird
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live here, it wasn’t as bad here as it was there but it flooded most of the road and knocked my neighbor’s palm tree over. My neighbor’s are ok and my family is too all that was damaged was a few trees and some fences!

katehaslam avatar
SkyBlueandBlack
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, my rain gauge this morning was just under 4 inches, and it looks like the wind blew all the seed pods off our jacarandas, but that's it (Moreno Valley). Looks like Oak Glen got hammered again, though. Those videos of the mudslide there were intense.

Load More Replies...
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