Southern California faces extensive damage from Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel

Post-Tropical Cyclone Rachel has caused significant infrastructure damage and property destruction across Southern California, stretching from Long Beach to San Diego. The storm brought heavy rainfall, flash floods, high winds, and powerful ocean surges, leading to coastal destruction in Los Angeles County where high-energy swells overtopped protective sand barriers.

In Riverside County, officials have announced that CalFresh recipients who lost food due to the storm have until October 30 to report losses and request replacement benefits. The state has extended the standard 10-day reporting period to 20 days for eligible households in disaster-impacted areas. Approximately 18,471 households in the affected regions receive these benefits.

While recent weather systems have been less persistent than Rachel, meteorologists warn of continued risks of heavy showers, gusty winds, and localized thunderstorms in Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.