In a devastating turn of events, California is being battered by a second storm in less than a week, unleashing heavy rain and triggering life-threatening flooding across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for numerous counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. These areas have already witnessed floodwaters submerging roads and fierce winds knocking down power lines and trees.

Los Angeles, in particular, experienced rainfall ranging from 2 to 5 inches, with the outskirts, such as the Santa Monica mountains and Topanga Canyon area, facing a staggering 5 to 10 inches of rain. At a news conference held on Monday, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley revealed that the fire department has responded to over 130 flooding incidents and 49 mudslide and debris flow incidents. The Los Angeles police also recorded more than 65 traffic collisions, highlighting the adverse impact of the storm.

Despite the havoc wreaked by the storm, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath expressed relief in stating that the county has weathered the storm relatively well. However, the situation remains dire as the atmospheric river event is expected to continue through Tuesday, bringing an additional 1 to 3 inches of rainfall to Los Angeles.

In response to the life-threatening flooding, evacuation orders and warnings have been issued in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Orange counties. Motorists have been left stranded in their cars, while residents have been forced to abandon their homes. In a shocking incident in Los Angeles' Baldwin Hills neighborhood, six cars crashed on a hill partly covered with mudslide debris, resulting in multiple injuries. One person is believed to have suffered a broken leg.

Further north in San Bernardino County, three individuals narrowly escaped tragedy when their car became submerged after attempting to drive across a flooded road. They clung to a tree for safety until they were rescued by first responders. In Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood, the local fire department saved 16 residents after debris flow damaged their homes. Miraculously, there were no reported injuries.

However, amidst the chaos, two fatalities have been reported due to fallen trees during the powerful storm. In Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz, a resident tragically lost their life after a tree collapsed onto their house, leading to a fatal incident. Another fatality occurred in Yuba City when an 82-year-old man was struck by a falling redwood tree while in his backyard.

As the storm rages on, over 516,000 customers in California woke up to power outages on Monday morning. Flash flood warnings and flood advisories have been issued for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, emphasizing the dangerous conditions that the storm has created.

Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution and heed evacuation orders to ensure their safety. The state is mobilizing emergency response teams to assist those in need during this tumultuous time.