US West Coast Severe Weather Impacts Jan 2005

4 Pages 992 Words

Rebecca Wheeler
Severe Weather – West Coast US


The devastating impacts of severe weather can be observed on the west coast of the US in January 2005; Californians encountered deadly and damaging flooding and mudslides. Losses were felt by many who mourn loved ones; others rebuild businesses, their homes, and their lives. Economic consequences of this 2005 weather event are in the billions. Death, injury, loss of home and livelihood can be blamed on the severe weather of January 2005. Transportation slowed dramatically and in some places came to a standstill. Insurance companies’ battle to keep up with an influx of claims and state government requested federal aid to supplement the clean up effort. These are the vast implications of January 2005’s mudslides and flooding in California.
The greatest loss suffered in the wake of the mudslide is the loss of human life. Many endured the loss of family members, friends, or neighbors. A total of 15 died in and around the hardest hit town of La Conchita, California (www.claimsguides.com). An additional 2 fatalities reported in Nevada as well as 1 in Utah due to subsequent avalanches following the period of severe weather (www.claimsguides.com). Rescue workers searched for days in the soggy rubble for those unaccounted for. Cadaver dogs were utilized in the search as well (www.LATimes.com)
The damage to southern California resulted in temporary homelessness. Flooding and threat of flash flood plagued many areas of the state. In Santa Clarita, mobile home parks were evacuated due to severe flooding. (www.Bloomberg.com) Water expected to flow over the top of the Santa Felicia dam prompted officials to evacuate 1000 Ventura County residents. (www.Bloomberg.com) One rescue worker observed, “Houses shoved onto each other as if they were cardboard boxes...” the landslide was that powerful. (www.LATimes.com) Authorities reported 13 homes in La Conchita destroyed and another 1...