begin partial quote from:
https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/hurricane-hilary-path-08-19-23/index.html
Hurricane Hilary to bring major flooding risk to California
By Adrienne Vogt and Matt Meyer, CNN
Catalina Island urges vulnerable residents and visitors to leave ahead of Hilary's arrival
From CNN’s Raja Razek
In advance of expected extreme weather from Hurricane Hilary, officials on Catalina Island — located off the coast of Southern California — are encouraging visitors and residents "that are unable to sustain without electrical power, and those with medical, access and functional needs," to leave the island Saturday.
The warning was issued due "to a forecast of storm impacts and possibly prolonged SCE utility outages," a news release from the City of Avalon reads. People trying to leave the small island can depart via the Catalina Express ferry.
Additional resources have been deployed to the island by the LA County Sheriff's Department and LA County Fire Department, according to the release.
"Red Cross, LA County, and the City of Long Beach will have services available at the Catalina Express Ferry Terminal, including transportation, shelter, and other essential services," the release reads.
Hurricane Hilary weakens to a Category 2 storm
From CNN's Gene Norman
Hurricane Hilary has weakened to a Category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 110 miles per hour, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center.
The forward speed of the storm increased a bit more to 17 mph. It is currently located 640 miles southeast of San Diego.
Some context: Hilary is expected to continue to weaken as it moves north-northwestward through cooler waters toward Southern California.
While the forecast has always indicated weakened winds by the time the storm reaches the US, the primary source of public safety concern is the sheer amount of rain brought to very dry areas by the storm.
Track Hilary's path here.
California is prepared to release water from dams if needed, agency director says
From CNN’s Raja Razek
State leaders are working with dam operators in Southern California to make sure facilities are ready to release water this weekend if needed in response to Hurricane Hilary, according to Director of the California Department of Water Resources Karla Nemeth.
"People may see spillway gates open and the release of floodwaters. That is a normal flood operations procedure and we anticipate in dams in Southern California, eastern San Diego County — those kind of facilities may be activated," she said in a news conference Saturday.
The department has opened a state and federal flood operations center, Nemeth said.
"That is where we are monitoring the potential effects of Hurricane Hilary," she said, adding that the department is in contact with local flood agencies and have "pre-positioned flood-fighting materials and things like sandbags and other materials for the public in the counties of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Orange County. We also have pre-positioned flood fight materials in Fresno and Kings County and other Central Valley counties as needed."
Nemeth strongly advised people to stay home if they do not need to be out on the roads.
"Please take yourself out of the equation," she said. "We need to make sure all our folks are kept safe, including first responders."
Use this checklist to be prepared before and during the storm
From CNN's Christina Maxouris and Doug Criss
Hurricane Hilary headed your way? Don’t panic. There are many steps you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.
A checklist can help you get started, with tips from the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Hurricane Center.
Read it here or download the PDF, which contains links with more details. For anyone in the path of the hurricane, we encourage you to consult these online resources to help stay safe.
Here are some more tips from the National Hurricane Center:
Sheriff issues evacuation warning for some mountain and foothill communities east of LA
From CNN’s Matt Phillips
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has issued an evacuation warning for the communities of Oak Glen, Forest Falls, Mountain Home Village, Angelus Oaks, and Northeast Yucaipa, according to a post on the department’s Instagram.
Hurricane Hilary, which currently a Category 3 storm, is on track to bring heavy rainfall to the region. Dangerous flooding and mudslides are also possible.
Some context: San Bernardino County is east of Los Angeles, and the communities listed are located in mountain or foothill areas.
An evacuation warning is not a mandatory order that residents leave home, but meant to prepare them that they should be ready to leave at any time. Particularly vulnerable people may choose to evacuate immediately.
State official warns Californians not to underestimate "very, very dangerous" storm
From CNN’s Raja Razek
The director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services issued a stark warning in a news conference Saturday, saying the approaching Hurricane Hilary "could be one of the most devastating storms that we've had hit California in more than a decade."
"Make no mistake," Nancy Ward said. "This is a very, very dangerous and significant storm."
According to Ward, heavy rainfall and strong winds associated with the storm have already begun and will be felt "well beyond the center of the storm entering California."
The worst of the impacts are expected throughout the day Sunday. You can track the storm here.
Ward's agency, a disaster response division of the governor's office known as Cal OES, is activated 24/7 to coordinate the emergency response and help get resources across the southern part of the state.
First responders have also been proactively stationed across Southern California so they can respond to flooding, mudslides and other hazards quickly, Ward said.
"We have pre-positioned high water vehicles with water rescue teams," the Cal OES director said. "We are also working with utility partners."
"There will be power outages across Southern California," Ward warned. "And we want to be sure we have this close communication with those utility companies to ensure that they can restore power as quickly as they possibly can."
LA County Parks announce Monday and Tuesday closure due to hurricane
From CNN’s Natasha Chen in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Parks system announced Saturday that all county parks, buildings, and facilities will be closed Monday and Tuesday as the region braces for heavy rains, potential flooding and high winds from Hurricane Hilary.
All parks programs and classes as well as aquatic centers, beaches, playgrounds, restrooms and trails will closed, according to a statement issued Saturday.
“The LA County Parks staff have been working around the clock in preparation of Hurricane Hilary and will remain at parks to monitor safety conditions and impact,” the statement said.
“While parks are not fenced in, visitors are encouraged to stay home,” the parks department said.
Sunday’s My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes concert at the Hollywood Bowl has also been postponed. The concert will now take place on Monday, August 28, the iconic outdoor venue announced on its website Saturday afternoon.
“County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation will close Park facilities on Sunday (August 20) and Monday (August 21), in partnership with the LA Phil this includes the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford,” according to the postponement announcement.
CNN’s Keith Allen and Heather Sinclair contributed to this report.
California regulators warn employers about worker safety during storm
From CNN’s Josh Campbell
California’s occupational regulating agency is warning employers of their duty to protect workers from safety issues associated with Hurricane Hilary.
In a statement, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health said that under state regulations, “employers are responsible for protecting their workers from new or previously unrecognized hazards, including eliminating or mitigating risks resulting from inclement weather, such as heavy rain and strong winds.”
The agency said employers are required to inspect worksites for potential storm hazards and to take appropriate steps to safeguard workers, including through the possible use of telework to ensure the safety of their employees.
Employees can file confidential reports regarding safety concerns with their local Cal/OSHA office, the agency said.
California emergency official says state is most concerned about deserts and recent burn areas
As Hurricane Hilary threatens to bring life-threatening floods to California, the state is particularly focused on preparing residents in areas that typically receive the least rain — or that were most recently scorched by wildfires.
"We're keeping a very close eye on our desert regions east of San Diego and Los Angeles," said Brian Ferguson, the deputy director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. He warned that "some parts of those areas may receive double their yearly amount of water in just a single day."
While on the lookout for mudslides and debris flows, they'll also focus closely on the "burn scars from fires that have happened in recent years," Ferguson said.
Residents have been offered sandbags to fortify their property in counties across Southern California, where some of the natural buffers against flooding have been burned away.
Ferguson's office has also focused especially on "vulnerable Californians: those in hospitals, nursing homes, homeless people or people who live outdoors, and what we can do to get people out of the storm's path before it arrives," he told CNN.
California has a staggering homelessness problem: More than 170,000 people are unhoused in the state.
Ferguson said the state will be aggressive in its public outreach efforts. California will use its expansive emergency warning systems — including notifications on phones in both English and Spanish — to help convince residents unfamiliar with hurricanes and tropical storms that they need to use caution.
Ferguson's office, known as Cal OES, serves as a hub for the state's myriad agencies during major emergencies. While California first responders and government officials are more accustomed to addressing unpredictable disasters — like wildfires and major earthquakes — they've emphasized the opportunity to actually prepare ahead of this hazard, given the ability to track hurricanes.
Hilary is currently a Category 3 hurricane. Here's what that means
From CNN staff
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is used to measure how strong a hurricane is, and it gives you an idea of how powerful Hurricane Hilary remains after it weakened to a Category 3 storm on its approach to the Southwest US on Saturday.
Here's what the categories mean:
- Category 1: Winds 74 to 95 mph (Minor damage)
- Category 2: Winds 96 to 110 mph (Extensive damage – Can uproot trees and break windows)
- Category 3: Winds 111 to 129 mph (Devastating damage – Can break windows and doors)
- Category 4: Winds 130 to 156 mph (Catastrophic damage – Can tear off roofs)
- Category 5: Winds 157 mph or higher (Absolute worst damage – Can level houses and destroy buildings)
Keep in mind: Hilary is expected to weaken to a tropical storm before making landfall in California tomorrow. But that doesn't mean officials aren't still concerned about potentially dangerous conditions.
Even as the winds die down, rainfall is expected to remain heavy, according CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar. Areas of California, Nevada and Arizona that are unaccustomed to rain could suddenly receive a year's worth or more — and the flooding that could accompany the downpour is the safety issue to watch in the US.
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