Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom Declares State Of Emergency In Wake Of Weekend Storms

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday for six counties in California after last weekend's rainstorms.

The emergency proclamation, according to a news release, was issued for Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

The move comes days after record rainfall and flooding caused damage in those counties, Tom Reopelle of KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO reported.

According to the proclamation, roads, highways, and other infrastructures were damaged by the series of rainstorms that swept across California beginning July 18.

In declaring the state of emergency, Newsom pointed to the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 10 in Riverside County, approximately 50 miles west of the California-Arizona border, ordered Caltrans to seek emergency funding to pay for the bridge and other road repairs.

The thoroughfare remains closed but will reopen Friday to limited traffic with one lane open in each direction.

Newsom said the storm also caused flash flooding and mudslides that damaged buildings and forced evacuations.

The proclamation also clears the way for financial assistance to help homeowners and businesses that sustained damage.

For updates on traffic conditions on Interstate 10 and other thoroughfares, tune-in to KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO and visit cbsla.com/traffic.