California’s deadly Pineapple Express storm sent as much as eight million gallons of raw sewage into the streets of Los Angeles and caused more than 500 mudslides.
Heavy rains have lashed the state, with half of the rainfall that normally falls in a year falling over several days.
The atmospheric river — a weather pattern made of moisture plumes that can produce heavy amounts of rain — has killed at least nine people, washed away dozens of homes and led to a massive sewage leak in Los Angeles County.
Health officials have warned residents in the area to stay away from coastal waters as eight million gallons of sewage entered the Dominguez Canal. Raw sewage can lead to a host of diseases, including Hepatitis A, E. Coli and dysentery.
Sanitation crews in the area have struggled to contain sewage, which has flowed down major streets into storm drainage systems.
California’s deadly Pineapple Express storm sent as much as eight million gallons of raw sewage into the streets of Los Angeles and triggered more than 500 mudslides
Heavy rains have lashed the state, with half of the rainfall that normally falls in a year falling over several days
The atmospheric river — a weather pattern made of moisture plumes that can cause torrential rains — has killed at least nine people, washed away dozens of homes and led to a massive sewage leak in Los Angeles County.
A major sewage leak occurred Monday in Rancho Dominguez, 10 miles north of Long Beach, spewing millions of gallons of waste from manholes.
“The problem is that there is an extremely unusual amount of stormwater leaking into the county sewer, causing more water to flow than some sewer lines can handle,” said Bryan Langpap, spokesman for the LA County Sanitation District. Los Angeles Times.
Just a day later, more sewage escaped from manholes about 20 miles (32 kilometers) into downtown Los Angeles and the solid waste ended up in the Dominguez Channel and Compton Creek.
An alert was then sent out by public health officials for people to avoid beaches in the area.
Approximately seven million Americans become ill each year from exposure to raw sewage, and seven percent of cases are fatal or serious.
Waste can lead to a wide range of diseases as it can contain viruses, bacteria and parasites.
The water near Cabrillo Beach is tested for bacteria that can survive in salt water for up to three days and cause diarrhea and other health problems.
“Water contact during a rain advisory can cause illness, especially in children, the elderly and sensitive people,” public health officials said.
‘It can take 72 hours or more for bacteria levels to return to normal after heavy rain.
“Beach users are cautioned at all times to avoid water contact near flowing creeks and storm drains.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, about 2.5 million people in Los Angeles, including Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, were still under flash flood warnings.
Health officials have warned residents in the area to stay away from coastal waters as eight million gallons of sewage entered the Dominguez Canal.
Sanitation crews near the Dominguez Canal are struggling to contain sewage, which has flowed down major streets into storm drainage systems
As of Wednesday afternoon, about 2.5 million people in Los Angeles, including Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills, were still under flash flood warnings.
The storm, fueled by the second of consecutive atmospheric rivers to hit California in days, made landfall in the northern part of the state last weekend before moving along the coast and parking itself over the South for days.
It has turned roads into rivers, causing hundreds of landslides and killing at least nine people.
The storm dumped more than a foot of rain in some areas, making it one of the wettest periods on record for Southern California.
One final drenching was expected Wednesday before the system gives way to fair weather for most of the state by the weekend. But even after the rain, authorities warned of the continued threat of collapsing hills.
After all the rain and snow last week, it wouldn’t take much for more water, mud and boulders to start trickling down vulnerable hillsides, experts say.
At least 520 mudslides have occurred in Los Angeles alone.
The system dumped heavy rain and mountain snow in San Diego County overnight before giving way to scattered showers. Winter storm warnings and advisories continued in the mountains of Southern California and further north in the Sierra Nevada.
It has turned roads into rivers, causing hundreds of landslides and killing at least nine people
The storm dumped more than a foot of rain in some areas, making it one of the wettest periods on record for Southern California
About 430 trees have fallen in Los Angeles alone, the city said, and work crews have struggled to deal with the storm’s aftermath
At least 520 mudslides have occurred in Los Angeles alone
About 430 trees have fallen in Los Angeles alone, the city said, and work crews have struggled to deal with the storm’s aftermath.
Wednesday’s power outages were significantly reduced from their peak levels, but more than 71,000 customers were still without power, mainly in the northern and central parts of the state, according to Poweroutage.us.
People were urged not to touch downed lines and avoid roads at risk of flooding and mud. At least 50 stranded motorists in Los Angeles were rescued from fast-moving swollen creeks, rivers, roads and storm channels during the storm, fire officials said.
Four of the nine people killed by the storm were struck by falling trees or branches, said Brian Ferguson, a spokesman for the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Another died when the power went out and she lost her oxygen supply, one drowned in the Tijuana River near the U.S.-Mexico border and three died in vehicle accidents, he said.
Atmospheric rivers also ravaged the state last year, causing at least 20 deaths.