On Saturday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency for large portions of Southern California as Hurricane Hilary approaches the state.
“California has thousands of people on the ground working hand-in-hand with federal and local personnel to support communities in Hurricane Hilary’s path with resources, equipment and expertise,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re mobilizing all of government as we prepare and respond to this unprecedented storm.”
Breitbart News previously reported that Hilary quickly gained speed and power over the Pacific, and was initially “declared a Category 4 storm, but it was downgraded on Saturday to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour.”
The storm has officially made landfall over Southern California as of approximately 11 a.m. Pacific Time, and has begun to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” to Mexico and Southern California. At time of publishing, there have already been reports of fatalities relating to floods in the area.
Newsom has deployed “more than 7,500 boots on the ground” to help local communities deal with the impacts of Hurricane Hilary, his office announced.
A press release from the governor’s office said that “The Governor signed the emergency proclamation in San Diego while visiting with California National Guard troops. Also today, the Governor met with first responders and local officials, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. He also was in touch with federal officials, including the White House.”
Additionally, Newsom has activated the “State Operations Center at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services,” saying that the center will help the state leadership continue “closely monitoring impacts from rain, wind, flash flooding and potential power outages, as well as coordinating across state agencies to provide resources in preparation for other potential impacts. Additionally, the state has activated its Medical and Health Coordination Center to coordinate and monitor response efforts and has issued an alert to all health facilities in the state.”
Southern California has not been hit with a hurricane or tropical storm since El Cordonazo in 1939.
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