https://sputnikglobe.com/20230312/over-a-thousand-californians-forced-to-evacuate-after-levee-fails-1108302902.html

Over 1,000 Californians Forced to Evacuate After Levee Fails

Sputnik International

The brutal spell of weather plaguing the Golden State continued Saturday as floodwaters surged over a levee and sent residents of an agricultural town stumbling.

2023-03-12T03:47+0000

2023-03-12T04:11+0000

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Over 1,000 Californians were forced to evacuate Saturday morning after a levee failed and the small town of Pajaro was flooded by a torrential storm that drenched the Central Coast’s Monterey County.Dramatic footage posted on social media showed early-morning rescues being carried out for residents who’d become trapped in their parked vehicle by rising floodwaters.Extractions continued throughout the pre-dawn hours, with the California National Guard writing on Twitter that its members “supported first responders in 56 rescues near the Pajaro river in Monterey County.”Local media reported the levee breach was approximately 100 feet wide as of 9:45 Saturday morning.Drone footage published on Twitter indicates the flooding showed little signs of stopping, with surging stormwaters continuing to careen over the levee well into Saturday.As of Saturday evening, over 16,000 Monterey County residents remained without power, according to PowerOutage.US.With wells flooded, those living in Pajaro are reportedly being urged not to use tap water until further notice due to the potential for contamination.

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Over 1,000 Californians Forced to Evacuate After Levee Fails

03:47 GMT 12.03.2023 (Updated: 04:11 GMT 12.03.2023)

© AP Photo / Nic CouryA car is surrounded by floodwaters in Watsonville, Calif., Friday, March 10, 2023. More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways during the morning commute.

A car is surrounded by floodwaters in Watsonville, Calif., Friday, March 10, 2023. More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways during the morning commute. - Sputnik International, 1920, 12.03.2023

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The brutal spell of weather plaguing the Golden State continued Saturday as floodwaters surged over a levee and sent residents of an agricultural town stumbling.

Dramatic footage posted on social media showed early-morning rescues being carried out for residents who’d become trapped in their parked vehicle by rising floodwaters.

Cal Guard Soldiers have supported first responders in 56 rescues near the Pajaro river in Monterey County. @CAgovernor @Cal_OES #montereycounty #alwaysreadyalwaysthere pic.twitter.com/VKsKbzsXJ0
— The California National Guard (@CalGuard) March 11, 2023

Extractions continued throughout the pre-dawn hours, with the California National Guard writing on Twitter that its members “supported first responders in 56 rescues near the Pajaro river in Monterey County.”

Local media reported the levee breach was approximately 100 feet wide as of 9:45 Saturday morning.

Drone footage published on Twitter indicates the flooding showed little signs of stopping, with surging stormwaters continuing to careen over the levee well into Saturday.

Levee break Pajaro River by ⁦@LiPoChing⁩https://t.co/hFfeoAwC0C
/⁦@sfchronicle⁩ pic.twitter.com/QsxvFI6k24
— Nicole Frugé (@PhotoFruge) March 12, 2023

As of Saturday evening, over 16,000 Monterey County residents remained without power, according to PowerOutage.US.

With wells flooded, those living in Pajaro are reportedly being urged not to use tap water until further notice due to the potential for contamination.