CaliforniaNews

 Massive storm poses lethal danger for homeless people. California is scrambling to help

Big Jeff, originally of Tucson, uses a raft to move his belongings from his tent at a homeless encampment on Bannon Island, along the Sacramento River on Wednesday. The storms last week caused flooding on the island; roughly 50 people who live in the encampment have been warned to move to higher ground. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

BY HANNAH WILEY, JESSICA GARRISON, SUMMER LIN, RUBEN VIVES

SACRAMENTO — Ahead of a massive storm expected to drench an already sodden state, officials throughout California are rushing to bring some of the tens of thousands of people living on streets and along waterways into shelters.

In Sacramento, which is still recovering from flooding caused by a brutal New Year’s Eve storm, city officials have launched an extensive effort to convince unhoused people along the American River to relocate to safer ground.

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The storm hit late Wednesday afternoon and was expected to continue into Thursday. Two to 4 inches of rain are expected in some metro areas, with 4 to 8 inches in some mountain areas. The National Weather Service has warned of “widespread flooding and damaging winds.”

But as clouds gathered Wednesday afternoon over Sacramento — marking an end to a brief respite between deluges — some said they had no plans to move.