Get All Access for $5/mo

Ellen Degeneres, California Residents Document Devastating California Flooding: Watch Flood levels are expected to reach up to 7 inches by Wednesday.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Floods have been devastating Southern California this week, and over 10,000 residents from Montecito down to Santa Cruz have been given mandatory evacuation orders in light of the dangerous conditions.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, at least 12 people have been confirmed dead from the storms, and terrifying videos have been circling the internet showing people riding boats inside their homes, cars floating on streets, and dangerous rainfall filling homes with "ice cold" water.

@julianrodrigo1972 #screammovie heavy downpours in #bakersfield #california #castorm #flooding ♬ Scary - Ramuone

@delamare22 California Cyclone Flooding 2023 The water is ice cold. My poor guinea hens lost their coop, but are more concerned about me! #flooding #floodedhouse #northerncalifornia #flooded #flood ♬ Cyclone (feat. T-Pain) - Baby Bash

@daniboo2222 Moved to LA for the weather and accidentaly moved during a cyclone :) #californiaflood #citygirlera #losangeles #bombcyclone ♬ Oh No - Kreepa

Among those documenting the devastation was comedian Ellen Degeneres, who took a video near her home in Montecito showing the flooding.

"We are having unprecedented rain," she tells viewers. "This creek near our house never flows, ever, it's probably about 9 feet, it's gonna go another 2 feet up … We need to be nicer to Mother Nature."

It's estimated that an astounding 33 million Californians (roughly 10% of the entire U.S. population) are under flood watches and warnings from the storms and the subsequent after-effects.

"Just as the last episode of heavy precipitation across California is beginning to wind down early this morning, another energetic low-pressure system is quickly gathering strength off the West Coast and heading once again toward California," the National Weather Service said early Tuesday morning. "An enormous cyclone forming well off the coast of the North American continent will bring yet another Atmospheric River toward the West Coast--this time impacting areas further north from northern California northward up the coast of the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday."

The NWS explained that "nearly all of California" has maintained above-average levels of rainfall by nearly 400% to 600% more than is standard for this time of year.

According to Reuters, up to 220,000 businesses and homes were out of power as of Tuesday morning, with up to 7 inches of rainfall expected to accumulate in some areas of the state by Wednesday.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Franchise

Kick-Start Your Small Business With These Cost Effective Strategies

Starting a small business is an exciting adventure, brimming with both opportunities and challenges. A key to success is effectively managing costs from the outset.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Business News

'I'm Shocked': Costco Customers Are Freaking Out About a Change to a Beloved Bakery Item

Costco customers are feeling burnt by a not-so-sweet switcheroo in the bakery department.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.