The recent flood tragedy in Texas has claimed over 100 lives, including at least 27 girls and staff members at a summer camp, with 161 additional people reported missing as of Tuesday.
This catastrophic event marks one of the deadliest floods in the United States this century, highlighting the increasing frequency of flood-related fatalities across the nation. The phenomenon is largely driven by climate change, as a warming atmosphere retains more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.
Southern California is not exempt from the dangers posed by flooding. In response to the devastating situation in Texas, LAist sought to investigate the local flood risks in the area.
While significant progress has been made in flood infrastructure since past disasters, experts warn that climate change is correlated with increasingly intense storms, thereby raising the risk of flooding in Southern California. Alarmingly, officials are currently six years behind schedule in addressing one of the nation’s highest-risk dams, located just above several local cities.
Historically, flooding used to be a frequent occurrence in Southern California, a stark reality of both natural and manmade tragedies. Nearly a century ago, the collapse of the St. Francis Dam in 1928—caused by design flaws—resulted in the deadliest dam failure in U.S. history, with at least 431 lives lost when the floodwaters surged from Santa Clarita to Ventura.
In the wake of this disaster, the region has significantly upgraded its flood control systems by constructing major dams, water-holding basins, and channeling significant rivers with concrete. However, during severe storms, certain areas still experience flooding events, as evidenced by a major storm in 2005 that resulted in ten fatalities and caused extensive property damage.
Kerjon Lee, a spokesperson for L.A. County Public Works, which oversees flood control systems throughout the county, explained, “That system may be overwhelmed by a storm [that’s] the size and scope of what we’ve seen in Texas and what may be forecast as a hundred-year event.” Recent studies indicate that storms once anticipated every century are becoming more prevalent.
Frances Edwards, who has overseen emergency preparedness for the cities of San Jose and Irvine, underscored the implications of climate change on weather patterns. “We can expect these 100-year storms—like the recent one in Texas—more frequently and in locations we wouldn’t typically expect to be at risk,” she stated.
Edwards elaborated, “Just because it didn’t happen before doesn’t mean it can’t happen now. The warmer the ocean gets, the warmer the air gets. The warmer the air gets, the more moisture it holds, which means there’s more moisture in the clouds when it rains. As the ocean warms, we are going to see much wetter weather than before.”
According to L.A. County’s draft hazard mitigation plan for 2025, major rainstorms are anticipated to worsen due to climate change, with a 95% annual chance of flooding events in the county.
One of the most pressing concerns is the Whittier Narrows Dam, located above Pico Rivera, which was classified as being in the highest risk category for failure in 2016. An official evaluation deemed the dam “unsafe” and “critically near failure.”
The county’s previous hazard mitigation plan from 2020 warns that failure of the dam could result in catastrophic consequences. “An intense storm could prematurely open the dam’s massive spillway and flood the area below from Pico Rivera to Long Beach,” the report states.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, responsible for managing this dam, has identified it as the “highest dam priority nationally” due to the combination of a potential loss of life and a very high likelihood of failure during rare flood events.
Construction projects intended to rectify the dam’s vulnerabilities were projected to conclude by 2025; however, the project is currently running six years behind schedule. The new expected completion date is now set for 2031.
According to a spokesperson for Pico Rivera, major construction is set to begin late next spring or early summer, with its anticipated completion by the end of 2031. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic slowdown, supply chain shortages, and rising costs for raw materials have all contributed to these delays.
In addition, city spokesperson Javier Hernandez pointed out that heavier rainfall patterns are “testing the limits of the dam,” adding to the urgency of the construction project.
Hernandez further noted, “The big challenge the Army Corps has outlined is building such a significant project while trying to best plan for weather and weather conditions. Hopefully, we don’t have the 500-year storm between now and the completion of this project.”
As residents of Southern California grapple with the realities of potential flooding, it’s crucial to know how to prepare and protect themselves. Edwards emphasized the importance of staying informed about weather forecasts and local news reports before and during major storms.
She advised residents to assess the flood risks in their surroundings. “Look at your environment, and ask yourself: if there’s a whole lot of rain that’s going to come in a hurry, is it going to come racing down the side of that mountain or will it clog up storm drains in my area? What’s my risk in my location?”
For resources, L.A. County emergency officials have set up ready.lacounty.gov, a platform designed to help prepare for various types of disasters, including floods.
This site features links to maps that identify flood risks throughout the region. “Severe flooding could happen almost anywhere in L.A. County. Just because you live adjacent to the L.A. River doesn’t mean there’s not risk there,” Lee warned.
Edwards also recommends keeping three to four days’ worth of food and supplies at home in the event of being stranded. She emphasizes the significance of establishing a communication system with multiple people who can check in to ensure everyone is safe.
If someone within your support circle does not respond, this should prompt contacting authorities for assistance.
Edwards concludes, “You should still have a buddy system, so somebody knows that they haven’t heard from you. Asking for help is extremely important for everybody. I don’t care how young and able-bodied you are.”
image source from：laist
