California was still recovering from the damage of multiple storms and flooding in the state when it was hit with a new set of storms on Saturday—causing mudslides, toppling trees and endangering millions.
On Sunday, showers continued at a rate of half-an-inch per hour and officials said the downpour could lead to flooding, though the National Weather Service reported that rainfall totals will still be less than that of Saturday.
At least 19 people have died due to inclement weather conditions in the state since December, and residents in northern California continue to be affected. Millions of residents, including the entire Bay Area, remains under a flood watch, according to CBS News. Flood warnings were previously issued across Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Sonoma, Sacramento, Merced and Fresno counties.
President Joe Biden approved the state’s major disaster declaration request on Saturday, providing federal funding to affected individuals in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties, according to a White House press release. The financial aid can be used for temporary housing, home repair grants, loans and more.
The Biden administration last issued an emergency declaration on Jan. 9 for more than a dozen counties in California.
“California is grateful for President Biden’s swift approval of this critical support to communities reeling from these ongoing storms,” said Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday. “We’ll continue to work in lockstep with local, state and federal partners to help keep Californians safe and make sure our communities have the resources and assistance they need to rebuild and recover.”
The storms were caused by a series of atmospheric river storms that dumped mass quantities of rainfall in the state. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric…
