Draft Cause and Effect Essay
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Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by ConstableSpiderPerson919
Impact to California and Lessons Learned from Recent Flooding Disasters
More than 20 people were killed in California because of atmospheric rivers and more recently,
Hurricane Hilary, between 2022 and 2023. While more than 100,000 homes were evacuated and over
1400 rescues were executed, these events caused loss of life, road closures including portions of
highways, whole home losses, disruption of emergency services, and inability to travel, work, and
commute. While water based natural disasters, excluding water droughts, make up the minority when
most people think of California’s weather-related issues, recent years have shown that the state is
unfortunately not immune to such events. As a result of the recent flooding disasters in California,
caused by historic atmospheric rivers and tropical storm induced floods, a lack of dependable
infrastructure has caused devastating impacts on lives, homes, businesses, and transportation,
showcasing the need for major infrastructural overhauls.
California lacks dependable infrastructure sufficient to handle impacts of large volumes of wet
weather for many reasons. Namely, there is a lack of history associated with these events in the state.
Due to this lack of historical weather patterns, infrastructure is lacking even in the most densely
populated areas. While California has not had a hurricane or tropical storm make landfall within the
boundaries of the state since record keeping began in 1949, it has had its fair share of storm cells passing
through the state (Ferrell, 2023). Often, these storms will make their way through the southern parts of
the state. As for the northern parts of the state, this is where the atmospheric rivers come into play.
California has recently broken a 40 year record for snowfall and as a result, had to deal with an incredible
amount of melt-off from all the snow-pack (Padilla, 2023).
How the results of the storms and recent flooding resulted in loss of vital infrastructure for many
(Lawrence, 2023)
Loss of roadways, electrical service disconnected, and flooding in homes and businesses.
Because of the lack of infrastructure it is extremely easy for homes, businesses and roadways to
flood to the point of being inescapable, impassable, and in some unfortunate scenarios, death
traps.
Financial impact to the state in aftermath of storms
Rebuild many homes, businesses
Insurance companies had to pay out millions in home damage claims
Family livelihoods affected from lack of travel ability/transportation commodities.
Conclusion:
Better built and maintained infrastructure can reduce flooding, road closures, and impact to
businesses.
Overhaul of Southern CA's drainage systems and roadways will create new jobs and keep current
jobs and save lives in event of next round of flooding.
Thesis: Investing in better infrastructure and state resources for water-based disasters in Southern
California will prevent impact to human lives, livelihood, medical assistance, and commuting in the
future.
References
Sullivan, B. & Bloomberg (2023, August 20). California braces for ‘life-threatening flooding’ and up to $2
billion in damage and loss from Tropical Storm Hilary. https://fortune.com/2023/08/20/california-life-
threatening-flooding-damage-loss-tropical-storm-hilary/
Lawrence, C. (2023, January 15). California floods cause estimated $31 billion in damage, 19 dead.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/01/16/stot-j16.html
Ferrell, J. (2023, August 17) California’s Hurricane History.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/californias-hurricane-history/1570831#:~:text=Hurricane
%20Hilary%20made%20landfall%20in,record%2Dkeeping%20began%20in%201949
.
Padilla, R. (2023, March 15). 677 inches of snow: California breaks a 40-year snowfall record as more of
the state eclipses the 50-feet mark.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2023/03/15/california-
snowfall-record/11435377002/
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