Debris flow risk: Rain begins as evacuees look for shelter

FELTON — As raindrops began to fall Tuesday afternoon in Felton, cars lined up on Highway 9, filled with families and their belongings, fleeing potential debris flows in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Some 5,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the North Coast. On Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire issued additional evacuations warnings for the Last Chance Road community.

Evacuees pulled in to San Lorenzo Valley High School, where Red Cross has set up a temporary evacuation center. While none of the evacuation centers are offering overnight accommodations, residents are allowed to sleep in their car, or other type of carcamping set ups.

For some, though, that’s not an option.

Chris Mann lost his housing after the CZU Lightning Complex fire and has been camping near Covered Bridge Road.

Red Cross supplied Mann with two blankets, but according to Mann the organization would not provide him with a hotel voucher. When asked where he would stay during the storm, Mann said he would camp.

"I can find something ... but not inside,” Mann said.

Other evacuees were also having challenges finding accommodations. Ralph Pilland and his wife live near the Boulder Creek Community Church and were put under evacuation orders because of debris flow risk. They also evacuated this past summer in the CZU Lightning Complex fire.

“We’re worried about being blocked in because just south of us is a burned cliff side, and we could be trapped there for a while,” Pilland said.

Pilland’s wife has health issues, which makes evacuating more complicated.

“Not only could we be trapped there and not able to get food, but the power is out, and the place doesn’t have a wood stove,” he said.

The couple was also attempting to get a hotel voucher from Red Cross. Pilland said he and his family signed a refusal waiver, provided by Santa Cruz County sheriff’s, because without assistance the cost of a hotel room is too much financial burden.

“If we don’t get a [hotel] voucher by tonight, we’re not going any place,” Pilland said. “Have you seen the rent for motel rooms in Santa Cruz? You might get a really good salary, but I don’t, my wife doesn’t. We need the vouchers.”

The couple planned to go back to their home, if they couldn’t secure a hotel voucher.