San Diego experienced heavy rainfall and flash flooding on Monday, leading to the closure of several roads and schools across the county.
With first responders urging residents to stay off the streets, several rescues had already taken place. In response to the severe weather, the County of San Diego issued a local emergency on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
The declaration was issued with the expectation that resources and assistance from the state and federal governments would be needed to deal with the damage caused by flooding. However, this was not enough to prevent Mayor Todd Gloria from declaring a state of emergency in the city of San Diego due to the extreme rainfall and flash flooding. Similarly, Coronado had to declare a state of emergency following the storm.
Residents of Coronado have been asked to assist the sewer system catch up by reducing the use of their drains in the next 24 hours. The flash floods seen throughout the county forced the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Swift Water Rescue team and firefighters to carry out 24 rescues on Monday alone. This included pulling people from their vehicles at flooded intersections, as well as rescuing people from the San Diego and Tijuana rivers.
San Diego’s flash floods caused significant damage throughout the county, leading to several roads being closed. The situation was so severe that federal and state assistance was deemed necessary to allow for a coordinated response to the disaster. The declaration of a local emergency by the Board of Supervisors was seen as the first step in marshalling government resources and coordinating efforts to manage the crisis.
The severity of the flash flooding left residents and officials alike concerned for the immediate future. With many schools and businesses closed, and several roads still impassable, the cleanup effort will be lengthy and arduous. The effects of the storm have brought the resilience of San Diego’s infrastructure to the fore. The situation remains fluid, but over the coming days and weeks, the true extent of the damage will become more apparent.
