California Town Forced to Evacuate After River Breaches Levee

  • Residents pulled from flooded cars near the town of Pajaro
  • California bracing for more heavy rain, snow next week
A resident surveys floodwaters from the Pajaro River in Watsonville, California, on March 11.Photographer: Nic Coury/AP Photo
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Authorities ordered residents in the California farming town of Pajaro to evacuate early Saturday after a nearby river swollen by recent torrential rains breached its levee.

The California National Guard and first responders rescued more than 50 people overnight near the Pajaro River, which topped its banks in Monterey County in Central California. A video posted by the Cal Guard showed stranded cars nearly covered by floodwaters as one driver was pulled from their vehicle.