Thousands evacuated as California grapples with aftermath of storms

Lowland communities of Alpaugh and Allensworth evacuated amid warnings that floods could isolate or trap residents

As California communities continued to grapple with the aftermath of storms last week that displaced thousands, destroyed homes and infrastructure, thousands more were ordered to evacuate on Sunday in the agricultural Central Valley.

The lowland communities of Alpaugh and Allensworth were evacuated after officials warned that floods could isolate or trap residents behind impassable roadways. The towns saw recent flooding due to a levee breach, which has been temporarily patched. Residents of Allensworth, the state’s first town to be founded by Black Americans, have been working to revive the local economy after decades of racist neglect had left the area without access to clean water.