Officials in Southern California prepared on Monday to receive potential reports overnight of serious damage caused by Tropical Storm "Hilary," which has triggered severe flooding to the east and west of Los Angeles in historic repercussions just a day prior. Meteorologists indicated that mountainous and desert areas could see rainfall between 12 to 25 centimeters, amounts that deserts typically record over an entire year. The National Weather Service downgraded "Hilary" from hurricane to tropical depression; however, Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a state of emergency in most areas of Southern California.
President Joe Biden urged citizens to take Tropical Storm "Hilary" seriously and to heed the guidance of government and local officials. In a statement, Biden said, "Once the path of 'Hilary' became clear, my administration took immediate actions to prepare. At my direction, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed federal personnel to California, and supplies were positioned for affected communities, with U.S. Coast Guard aircraft pre-positioned to allow for quick response and search and rescue efforts."
