Floods Cause California Emergency

Gov. Pete Wilson declared a state of emergency Friday in Los Angeles and Orange counties after storms flooded streets across Southern California.

The declaration ensures state funds will be available to help rebuild public facilities damaged by this week’s storms and cover the cost of emergency operations.

Damage is estimated at $20 million in Orange County and at least $1 million in Los Angeles County.

Floodwaters reached 5 feet in some neighborhoods, and flooding forced hundreds of people to leave their homes or abandon submerged vehicles.

At least two deaths and 10 injuries were blamed on the storms Tuesday and Wednesday.