At least 13 dead in California mudslides
Heavy rains trigger slides in areas left vulnerable by last month’s wildfires
Flooding and mudslides triggered by heavy rains swept away homes, overwhelmed roads and prompted widespread rescues Tuesday in areas of Southern California left vulnerable by last month’s devastating wildfires.
At least 13 people died and many more were missing in the chaos as residents fled storm-ravaged areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Hundreds of residents were under mandatory evacuation orders.
Santa Barbara County Fire spokesman Mike Eliason said heavy rains triggered “massive” runoff in Montecito, an unincorporated community of about 10,000 people 100 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.
Firefighters rescued a 14-year-old girl trapped for hours in the mud-covered ruins of a Montecito home.
“Multiple rescues from vehicles and structures are underway,” Eliason tweeted. “Access is difficult/delayed due to at some locations-waist deep mudflow, trees, and wires down.”
Santa Barbara County officials estimated that only 10%-15% of those ordered to evacuate left their homes by Monday evening before the fierce storm. Scores of sheriff ’s deputies and other first responders raced door-to-door to aid evacuees. Helicopters, rescue dogs and swift-water rescue teams were pressed into service as trees and electrical wires tumbled in the storm.
Crews struggled to reopen highways across much of the region.
“Shelter in place or go to high ground, but stay off the roads if you are still in the mandatory or voluntary evacuation areas,” Santa Barbara’s emergency management office warned. “Take protective actions to stay safe ... and do not attempt to leave and drive across flowing water or mud.”
The Thomas Fire, the largest in California history, burned more than 440 square miles and more than 1,000 homes, businesses and other buildings last month. Then came the rains, and hillsides stripped of vegetation by the fires were prone to mudslides.