<span style="color: #222222;">A powerful storm battering California has forced thousands to evacuate including an entire community and prompted dozens of water rescues as floodwater inundated roadways, swept away vehicles and caused widespread damage.<br />''<br />''The entire community of Montecito in Santa Barbara County was ordered to evacuate Monday, along with residents in parts of Carpinteria, Summerland and the City of Santa Barbara. Parts of the Pacific Coast Highway, a key sea-side California highway, were closed in Southern California due to the flooding, officials said.<br />''<br />''More than 34 million people were under flood watches early Tuesday after parts of the central California coast received 1 to 1.25 inches of rain per hour Monday, the Weather Prediction Center said.</span><br />