Santa Barbara Airport suspended due to flooded runways
More than 37 million residents subject to coastal flood warnings
A strong winter storm and heavy rain hit Southern California again on the 19th (local time), causing flooding of runways at local airports, halting flight operations, and rescue operations as residents were stranded in swollen rivers.
According to the Associated Press, Santa Barbara Airport, the main airport in California’s coastal region, was closed on the 19th. This is because the heavy rain that fell until noon already exceeded 25cm and all the runways were submerged in water.
The airport announced on social media, “All commercial flights have been canceled, general aviation services have been suspended, and the airport terminal has been closed.” He said, “To find out detailed flight operation information, please contact each airline directly to confirm.”
The National Weather Service said California’s central coastal region is experiencing a “significant risk of flooding.”
More than 12 cm of rain has already fallen in most areas, 25 cm of water bombs have fallen in the Santa Lucia and Santa Ines mountainous areas, and the storm belt is moving toward the Los Angeles area, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
This winter storm is moving faster than the torrential downpours that lingered in southern California earlier this month, causing hundreds of landslides and flooding roads with rivers. At that time, the damage to residents was severe and at least 9 people died from the flood.
The Korea Meteorological Administration predicted that rain would continue to fall on the afternoon of the 19th and that heavy rain would continue in this area on the night of the 19th and until the 20th.
The California Governor’s Office established an emergency response headquarters starting on the 17th last weekend and is deploying rescue personnel starting from the most dangerous areas.
In San Luis Obispo County, rescue teams rescued three residents of the city of Paso Robles who were at risk due to flooding from the Salinas River. Firefighters are also doing everything they can to rescue people stranded in the area’s rivers and islands, local fire chief Scott Hallett told KSBY-TV.
The Sacramento City Fire Department also rescued two residents who were evacuating by climbing onto the roof of a vehicle immersed in flood water 32km southeast of the city.
A few hours later, a man camping in a valley in the El Dorado mountain range north of here was rescued by the fire brigade after becoming stranded due to rising river waters.
Violent weather with lightning, thunder, rapid tornadoes, heavy rain, hail, and strong winds continued in the Sacramento area, city authorities said through X-Account.
Kelly Curtis, a personal fitness instructor in Long Beach, said she is trying to prevent flood damage by collecting sandbags and stacking them to prevent flooding in her training center set up in her garage.
California’s coast is struggling to prevent heavy rain, flooding and landslides due to the second winter storm this month, and heavy snow is predicted for the 2,070m high elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Korea Meteorological Administration advised drivers to take detours to avoid mountain roads, saying there is a risk of roads being blocked by heavy snow.
This storm area, with heavy rain and thunderstorms, continues to move north toward Los Angeles, and central and northern California are expected to soon become affected areas.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.