Windpocalypse Forces Governor Brown to Declare State of Emergency
Ten days after windpocalypse ripped through L.A. County, Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for eastern L.A. County. Winds, referred to as "hurricane-force winds" by various media sources, wreaked havoc on L.A. on November 30.
Brown's declaration allows Caltrans and other agencies to apply for federal funds to repair and reconstruct damaged roadways, reports City News Service. CBS LA adds that the storm destroyed dozens of traffic lights and other related equipment. All of L.A. County, its cities plus the City of Rancho Cucamonga in San Bernardino are covered by the governor's declaration.
A total of 433,945 customers were left without power thanks to the fierce winds. SoCal Edison gradually restored power to all residents after about nine days of darkness. The company's efforts were under fire by many, including L.A. County supervisors.
An investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission is probing why so many poles fell and why Edison left its customers shivering in the dark for such a long period of time. Edison apologized for its fail last week, writing, "We were not able to achieve our restoration targets or provide accurate information about their service," in a letter to customers.
Officials estimate the storm's damage tag to exceed $40 million.
