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In the U.S. state of California, the death toll from two weeks of heavy storms and flooding has reached at least 20 after record rainfall and snow continued over the long, holiday weekend. ​

San Francisco, January 17 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of California, the death toll from two weeks of heavy storms and flooding has reached at least 20 after record rainfall and snow continued over the long, holiday weekend. 

The director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services described the storms as “among the most deadly natural disasters in the modern history of our state.” 

In Ventura County, 17 inches of rain fell over the past week.  Helicopters were needed to evacuate some residents in the county after flooding and landslides cut off access to their homes. 

Nearly two inches of rain fell on downtown Los Angeles Saturday, setting a new record.  Parts of the Sierra Mountains received over four feet of snow.

Over the weekend, President Biden approved a major disaster recovery declaration for California. Biden plans to visit part of California’s Central Coast on Thursday.