United States: Landslides kill at least 17 in Santa Barbara county /update 3

Event

Search-and-rescue efforts continue in Santa Barbara county on the evening of Wednesday, January 10. Heavy rainfall in Southern California triggered flooding and landslides on Tuesday, January 8, killing at least 17 people and injuring  28 others. Emergency services continue to search for 13 people who are reportedly still missing. Rescue operations are concentrated in the Montecito and Carpinteria areas, which were the most affected by the landslides. The death toll is expected to rise in the coming hours as search-and-rescue operations continue.

As of Wednesday evening, parts of Highway 101 remain closed between Ventura (from the junction of Highway 101 and State Route 126) and the city of Santa Barbara (South Milpas Street) due to landslides. The affected parts of the highway are likely to remain closed until Monday, January 15. Additional road closures and consequent transportation disruptions have been reported throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Due to damage to water mains and other infrastructure, Montecito residents are being advised to boil tap water before using it for drinking or cooking. Additionally, power outages have been reported in Montecito and adjacent areas; it remains unclear when power will be restored to affected areas.

Associated transportation disruptions and lingering power outages are expected in the coming hours and days as recovery efforts continue.

Context

Authorities in Santa Barbara county issued mandatory evacuation orders on January 8 for roughly 6000 people in the areas of Summerland, Montecito, Carpinteria, and the city of Goleta due to the risk of flooding and landslides. Additional mandatory and voluntary evacuations were issued in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on January 8. Such areas are located adjacent to the burn areas from a series of wildfires that affected Southern California between October and December 2017. Areas burned by the forest fires are vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides due to the inability of burned soil to absorb rainfall and the lack of living vegetation to prevent erosion.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas of California are advised to monitor local weather forecasts, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders), and anticipate significant localized transportation delays.

Keep in mind that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.