Devastating winter storm in California

Flooding in California: A firefighter saves a woman who was trapped on top of her pickup (photo L.A. Times).

At least 11 people have been killed in the storms so far that started in December in southern California, which meteorologists said were particularly damaging because they came one after the other with no break in between. The deaths came as drenched Californians reeled from the latest winter storm to pummel the state, burying homes in mud and closing schools and major roads. Flights were delayed at Los Angeles International Airport.
Meteorologists say Southern California since mid-December has been pounded with 40 percent more rainfall than the area typically gets all winter, saturating the soil so that it can no longer absorb the downpour. Rivers and flood control channels were also full or overflowing. As many as 12,000 people in Los Angeles were without electricity after felled trees disrupted power lines.