Ellen, Oprah speak out about California mudslides
Some of Montecito’s famous residents are speaking out about the devastating mudslides that have ravaged Southern California.
The one-two punch of fire and downpour-fueled debris flows have debilitated the community of about 10,000. The slides have killed at least 17, destroyed an estimated 100 homes, and sent rescuers scrambling through the rubble searching for dozens who are missing.
“This room is always so full of positivity and love and today, I really need it,” Ellen DeGeneres told the audience of her daytime talk show Thursday.
“One of the things that I want to talk about is, you know, we’ve had these terrible fires all over California and one of the hardest hit areas is where I live in Montecito.” DeGeneres said following the blazes, she was able to return home last month. She said she was filled with pride to see signs throughout the community of people expressing their gratitude to firefighters and first responders. “I just love this place,” she said.
However, DeGeneres said the rain washed away her short-lived bliss.
“Sunday night, Portia (de Rossi) and I got a call that we’re under mandatory evacuation, again, with most of the community of Montecito. So again, we evacuated because they feared mudslides,” the host said. “After everything we’ve been through I think a lot of people thought they were just being overly cautious, but exactly what they feared happened. The rain triggered massive mudslides. Massive.”
“There are families missing, there are people who are missing family members,” DeGeneres said. “They’re finding people and bodies and I mean, you hear the word ‘mudslide’ and you have no idea the impact that it has. ... (Montecito) is beyond recognizable.”
DeGeneres also FaceTimed with her neighbor, Oprah Winfrey, who said she wasn’t aware of the mudslides until people inquired about her home.
“Everyone was saying to me, ‘ How’s your property?’ ” Winfrey said. “I’m looking out the front window, I think everything’s fine, everything’s fine, and it wasn’t until I put my boots on and went outside walking and I realized every- thing wasn’t indeed fine.”
Winfrey said she saw some of her neighbors homes were “gutted,” while others are “gone, just gone.”
She said as her house is on a knoll, she felt secure and that despite not having water or gas, she feels grateful.
Other celebrities have taken to social media to speak out about the destruction.
“Mourning the dead in our little town tonight,” Rob Lowe tweeted Tuesday. “Praying for the survivors and preparing for whatever may come. #Montecito”
Bella Hadid referred to the community as her hometown on Instagram Tuesday: “I really can’t believe it,” she captioned the picture. “I am praying and thinking so much for our friends in the hospital and their families that are still missing.”
Sharing the same photo as her sister, Gigi Hadid asked her Twitter followers to “Please keep the families of Santa Barbara in your thoughts and prayers.”
Contributing: John Bacon and Megan Diskin