An Explanation of the Flooding in California


According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, Southern California is now free of the worst drought conditions. While the rainfall over the past couple months was much needed, California is now experiencing some major flooding. Keep reading to learn more about what caused the Golden State to go from drought to flood so quickly this year.

Atmospheric Rivers


Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere (like rivers in the sky) that are responsible for most of the horizontal transport of water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When these atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release precipitation.

Flooding in California 


La Nina and the cooler water in the tropics led to an abundance of the rivers. From the strained Oroville Dam to the flooding in San Jose, all this water can be attributed to atmospheric rivers. While the atmospheric rivers are essential to California's climate, this year, the water has gotten out of control. California's water supply depends on the atmospheric rivers; however, the state needs a percentage of the water to come in the form of snow (not rain). When water runs off into rivers and streams right away (like it did with the recent heavy rains), it makes it to reservoirs and fills them. This wet winter is melting the snow in California too fast, exacerbating the already full reservoirs and causing major flooding throughout the state.

California Flood Management


Unfortunately, this water issue is just getting started. The atmospheric rivers are projected to warm up, meaning more rain and less snow. When you have an extreme period of drought like California has had over the past several years, wet weather isn't going to balance it out. Instead, it gives the land a top lay of dust, which flooding sweeps away, creating sediment rivers. This warmer weather ahead is not only going to make California defrost early, but will also make the atmospheric rivers stronger. Unfortunately, the state is not prepared to withstand stronger storm events. The fact of the matter is, California's changing climate is outpacing its flood management systems and infrastructure.

Big Bags USA® 


Not only can our innovative flood barrier systems be used in emergency flooding situations to reduce property damage, but they can also be used as construction barriers. If improvements are needed on dams and levees, our systems can be used as cofferdams. Our heavy-duty construction barriers provide a re-usable alternative to sheet pile cofferdams, sandbag barriers, water barriers, single FIBC bags, super sacks and aqua dams. For more information on the Big Bags USA® systems, give us a call at 1-800-337-0537.

If you have an immediate need for our systems, or have any questions for us, please Call us Toll Free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


D.R.I.P.S.
Disaster Relief & Innovative
Protection Systems, LLC
(573) 480-6699

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ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!



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Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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