When it rains, California braces for ‘catastrophic’ monsoon, Gov. Brown says

California Gov.
Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in the state’s upper peninsula and ordered state agencies to prepare for a “catastrophe” of unprecedented proportions, according to a statement from the governor.
Brown has declared an emergency for the San Joaquin Valley, which includes the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, and parts of the state, including the state capital of Sacramento.
The declaration will also apply to areas with significant flooding in other parts of California.
It’s a declaration that could see billions of dollars in aid and reconstruction efforts postponed as the region braces for the worst weather in a generation.
In his statement, Brown called the situation “dire” and a “national emergency.”
“This is a devastating situation for all Californians, and we need all of the help we can get from our neighbors and from the international community,” he said.
“We can’t wait for the rain to stop.
It’s already here.
And the threat of another heavy rainstorm, or an ice storm, or even a severe storm surge is real.
So we need to get out of this, get out, and help everyone who is impacted.”
The declaration comes after the state issued a mandatory evacuation order for more than 6 million people.
In a statement Monday, the governor said the state will not be issuing any additional evacuations.
The National Weather Service issued a snow advisory in the area and the state said Monday night it had ordered its snow plow crews to work in an effort to remove snow.
The threat of extreme weather is now unprecedented, Brown said in his statement.
“I will not rest until I have the best emergency management practices in place to prevent these catastrophic events from occurring in the future.”
California Gov.
John Chiang, left, and California Govs.
Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown, right, listen as the National Weather Services warns of “extreme weather” in the Sacramento area.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez”This crisis cannot be allowed to fester, and if we don’t act now, it will only get worse,” Brown said.
Brown ordered an immediate review of California’s disaster declaration and a mandatory suspension of the death penalty.
The state also said it would review its emergency declaration to ensure it applies to all parts of Southern California, including California’s largest cities.
California Govs Gavin Newsman and Jerry W. Brown, center, look on during a news conference at the White House in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2018.
The governors have urged California residents to prepare to evacuate ahead of a severe weather event.
AP Images/Pablo Martinez MonsivaisThe declaration also requires the California Highway Patrol to prepare additional “precautionary measures” to reduce the number of vehicle crashes, according the governor’s statement.
The state is also urging the public to report any suspicious activity to the state police, which will be able to investigate.
The statement said the department will be conducting “wide and thorough” patrols throughout the state to keep the public safe.
The California Highway Safety Division said in a statement that the department is “actively reviewing the emergency declaration and will make the appropriate recommendations to address any issues that might be found.”
“California’s emergency response to the current severe weather is robust, and while this has not been an easy decision for many of us, we are grateful for the support of the entire state,” the statement said.