Authorities warned of the possibility of “catastrophic” flooding in Mexico and California, in the southwestern United States, due to the passage of Hurricane Hilary this Sunday, which has already caused one death in Mexico.
A person drowned on Saturday, on the east coast of the Baja California peninsula, in northwestern Mexico, when a vehicle was swept away by the waters that flooded the streets of the city of Santa Rosalía.
Dozens of people sought refuge in storm shelters in Los Cabos, on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, and firefighters rescued a family in San José del Cabo after heavy rains and winds battered a resort.
Originally classified as a Category 4 hurricane, the second strongest, Hilary has since been upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane.
“It doesn’t lessen the threat, especially the threat of flooding,” said National Hurricane Center deputy director Jamie Rhome.
Forecasters warned that Hillary could dump up to 250 millimeters of rain on Southern California and neighboring Nevada, equivalent to a year’s worth of rain for some areas.
The storm, with gusts of up to 155 kilometers per hour, could also send waves up to 12 meters high along the Pacific coast.
This is expected to be the first hurricane to hit Southern California in 84 years, and authorities are warning of the possibility of flash flooding, mudslides, isolated tornadoes, high winds and power outages.
The US Navy sent around 10 warships to ensure the safety of the ships that were supposed to stay in the port of San Diego. This is the first time the US Navy has conducted such an operation in San Diego.
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency and the authorities urged people to prepare for Hilary’s arrival before sunset on Saturday, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m. this Sunday in Lisbon ).
Authorities issued an evacuation alert for Santa Catalina Island, 37 kilometers off the southern California coast, a popular tourist destination.
In the northern Mexican city of Tijuana, Fire Chief Rafael Carrillo urged residents on steep slopes to leave their homes “if they hear noise or [virem] cracks in the ground”, because they can collapse.
The city of 1.9 million, which borders the United States, on Saturday ordered the closure of all beaches and installed several storm shelters at sports complexes and government buildings.
The Mexican Navy evacuated 850 people from the islands off the coast of Baja California and deployed nearly 3,000 soldiers in emergency operations.
Source: TSF
