In the US state of California, it has been heavily affected by large amounts of rainfall in recent days.
On Tuesday, it will be confirmed that at least 14 people have died as a result of the storm which has caused flooding, damage to houses and closed main roads.
A five-year-old boy is still missing after he was swept away by the floods, and authorities are still expecting more rain and snow in the US’s most populous state.
FLOODED: Flood waters have taken over streets in California on January 10. Photo: Noah Berger / AP
More than 230,000 California homes and businesses woke up without power Tuesday morning, according to the tracking site Poweroutage.us.
Big differences
Seamen’s priest and general manager of the Seamen’s Church in San Francisco, Jon Olav Berg Hjelde, says that there are big differences in the city.
– The weather here changes very quickly. This morning it hailed, later in the day it was windy, rained heavily and thundered and lightened. But now it is completely clear
ON THE SITE: Sailor priest Jon Olav Berg Hjelde says that the storm that is ravaging San Fransisco has led to many people having to take action. Photo: Weronika Nitsch
The area in which the church is located is not particularly affected by the storm, as it is located in an area with many hills. Thus, much of the water flows past. They still have to take action to keep the storm at bay.
– At the church, we have some old doors where we have to lay out towels because water comes through gaps when it rains or blows a lot, Hjelde tells TV 2.
He himself had to go home early from holiday, because he was high up on the mountain and feared chaos on the way down.
Little concern from Norwegians
But even if the church is not particularly affected by the weather, Hjelde knows of a Norwegian family living in another area of the city that has had to take action.
– I know a Norwegian family that has had to dam up their garage with sandbags because it has rained so much that the water seeped in.
However, he believes that very few Norwegians who live in the area are worried about the rain. He believes this has a connection with the weather in Norway.
MERCILESS FLOODING: Rescuers in San Diego help a man save his dog from flooding on January 10. Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP
– Those we speak to are in good spirits because Norwegians are more used to a lot of weather. On the other hand, the soil is drier and different here, so trees fall much more easily. A lot of water can also collect, or lead to landslides in some places.
The weather also has an effect on the church.
– Fewer people come to church now because it is more difficult to get there. Therefore, we have had less contact with people after the Christmas holidays. People also get messages from the authorities on their phones to stay indoors, so naturally fewer people visit us.
