Tropical Storm Hilary Spares California from Catastrophic Devastation

Residents and officials reported that Tropical Storm Hilary, which broke records for August rainfall as it passed through California on Sunday but was significantly weaker than the terrifying Category 4 hurricane that had alarmed meteorologists days earlier when it was over the Pacific Ocean, had prevented the region from suffering catastrophic damage. 

Residents and officials said the region had returned to sunshine on Monday. Some areas in the desert cities east of Los Angeles turned into a soggy mess under a deluge of rain on Monday, and the mayor of Palm Springs said that the city was briefly shut off due to road closures. 

Videos from the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties showed torrents of sludge-colored water flowing ominously through stream beds and carrying rocks and tree stumps.

However, as of Monday afternoon, there were no reports of storm-related fatalities in one of the most densely populated regions of the country – Los Angeles and San Diego Counties alone have a combined population of more than 13 million. 

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Cleanup Efforts After Tropical Storm Hilary

One of the relatively few tropical storms to reach California in the last century was Hilary. The second-largest school district in the country, Los Angeles Unified, had canceled Monday’s classes and after-school activities due to widespread difficulties. 

Tuesday was the start of classes, according to the district. On Monday, crews in Los Angeles and other Southern California and Nevada communities were reacting to complaints of downed power lines, potholes, and fallen trees as well as minor road flooding. 

But in general, officials expressed relief that the situation had not gotten any worse. Officials issued a warning that some areas of the state had not yet been extricated from the mud that the storm had produced. 

As repair teams continued to respond to complaints of damage, the City of Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley asked citizens to exercise caution and good judgment. According to city officials, many trees were uprooted and their branches shattered. They gave locals advice to stay away from parks and flooded areas.

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Source: www.msn.com