Across the Central Coast's Monterey County, more than 8,500 people were under evacuation orders and warnings Saturday, including roughly 1,700 residents from the unincorporated community of Pajaro.
WATSONVILLE, Calif. — A Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop was forced to evacuate early Saturday after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state.
First responders and the California National Guard rescued more than 50 people overnight. One video showed a member of the Guard helping a driver out of a car trapped by water up to their waists. Oliver Gonzalez, 12, told The Associated Press that he, his mother and his aunt were rescued around 5 a.m. Saturday in Parajo. He grabbed his laptop, cellphone and some important documents but so much was left behind in their rush to leave.
The Pajaro Valley is a coastal agricultural area known for growing strawberries, apples, cauliflower, broccoli and artichokes. National brands like Driscoll’s Strawberries and Martinelli’s are headquartered in the region. Across the state on Saturday, Californians contended with drenching rains and rising water levels in the atmospheric river's aftermath. In Tulare County, the sheriff ordered residents who live near the Tule River to evacuate, while people near the Poso Creek in Kern County were under an evacuation warning. The National Weather Service's meteorologists issued flood warnings and advisories, begging motorists to stay off deluged roadways.
The atmospheric river, known as a “Pineapple Express” because it brought warm subtropical moisture across the Pacific from near Hawaii, was melting lower parts of the huge snowpack built in California’s mountains.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Endless winter: Rural Northern California set to endure yet another stormWith yet another atmospheric river set to hit California, rural residents prepare for floods and snow.
Read more »
Storm breaches California river’s levee, hundreds evacuateHundreds of people in a Northern California agricultural community were forced to flee their homes early Saturday after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river pummeling the state.
Read more »
Storm breaches California river’s levee, hundreds evacuateMore than 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate after a levee was breached by flooding in California.
Read more »
Storm breaches California river's levee, thousands evacuateWATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop was forced to evacuate early Saturday after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state.
Read more »
Storm breaches California river's levee, thousands evacuateA Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop has been forced to evacuate after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state
Read more »
Storm breaches California river's levee, thousands evacuateA Northern California agricultural community famous for its strawberry crop has been forced to evacuate after the Pajaro River’s levee was breached by flooding from a new atmospheric river that pummeled the state.
Read more »