Over 17 Dead as Storms Continue to Batter California
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Facts
An unprecedented wave of storms continues to wreak havoc in California, with floodwaters inundating neighborhoods and killing at least 17 people, as well as releasing sewage into flooded streets.
Five atmospheric rivers — long, narrow regions in the atmosphere that can carry moisture thousands of miles — have struck California in the last two weeks, causing record flooding and leaving five million people under flood watches.
Northern and Central California have taken the brunt of the storms, but cities like Los Angeles and San Diego now face the threat of flash flooding and mudslides as the system is moving south.
Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed the situation during a visit to the town of Capitola on the Santa Cruz coast, stating: “We've had less people die in the last two years of major wildfires in California than have died since New Year's Day related to this weather."
On Monday, Pres. Biden declared a state of emergency in California, thereby authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts and provide assistance.
The storm doesn't yet appear to be nearing its end, as more rain is expected to drench the west coast this weekend. However, parts of Southern and Central California are expected to get a short reprieve from the deluge.
Narratives
Narrative A, as provided by Vox. We are now at a point in the climate crisis where its devastating effects are not just theoretical but are manifesting before our eyes. California has gone from years of severe drought to mass flooding in a two-week span. This extreme change is not natural and exemplifies the kind of weather whiplash caused by climate change.
Narrative B, as provided by Daily Caller. Climate change continues to be the establishment’s crutch whenever attempting to explain any natural phenomenon. Californian politicians and meteorologists seem more concerned with pushing climate propaganda than they are with helping people amid a natural disaster.