LA County begins recovery process after heavy storms

A geologist takes a picture while surveying a mudslide Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. Recovery efforts after the storm have started, officials announced toiday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

LOS ANGELES – Following powerful downpours that stormed through the LA region, the initial activities to support residents with their individual recovery efforts are set to begin, county officials announced today.

The first step in the process is for individuals and businesses to complete a survey to answer preliminary questions regarding any damage that was sustained from the recent storms. The county’s Office of Emergency Management will work directly with the county’s 88 cities to analyze this information and validate what is reported.

This survey is intended for information gathering purposes and will be used to determine if the county is eligible for various disaster assistance programs based on the total amount of damages reported countywide.

Disaster assistance programs are not guaranteed, so residents and businesses are encouraged to continue working with their insurance carriers while this information is collected, according to the OEM.

“As we begin the recovery process, Los Angeles County is here to support the renters, homeowners and businesses impacted by the storm,” Lindsey Horvath, chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. “No one is alone in navigating this process, and the county is here to help ensure our communities are connected to the resources they need.”

She added, “We came together to stay safe, and we’ll do the same through our recovery process.”

The public can access the Damage Collection Survey here. The county’s recovery page for the 2024 storms will serve as a resource library for all post-disaster information. Residents are encouraged to visit the website regularly for the most up-to-date information regarding recovery activities. For assistance, in completing the survey, residents can call 2-1-1.

In the city of L.A., the office of Mayor Karen Bass encouraged residents to review and complete the damage collection survey. Bass’ office also provided a midday update on recovery efforts.

Over the course of the storm, firefighters assisted approximately 50 motorists stranded in water to safety and L.A. Fire Department’s Swift Water Teams performed five rescues.

Since 8 a.m. Thursday, the bureaus with the Department of Public Works responded to hundreds of calls for service regarding 553 fallen trees and branches, 592 mudslides, 1,180 reports of potholes and 1,511 catch basins and stormwater conveyance systems cleared.

City officials continued to advise residents to avoid driving on canyon roads, and noted that 16 buildings were red-tagged and 33 buildings were yellow-tagged, meaning no-entry, and that residents could return for collecting their possessions, respectively.

Department of Transportation traffic officers have been deployed to multiple closures and continue to direct drivers away from impacted areas.

There are significant mudslides and washouts near the 8600-8700 block of Mulholland Drive between Bowmont Drive and Skyline, which has been closed. Coldwater Canyon Boulevard on the southbound lane is closed to traffic at Mulholland.

Building and safety inspectors are assessing homes near the affected areas, and the Bureau of Engineering team has assessed the need for restoration of slope stability, and has begun to reconstruct the affected hillsides.

Additionally, during the course of the storms, firefighters assisted residents, whose home was near the impacts of a mudslide on the 8600 block of Edwin Drive. Firefighters ensure their safety, and verified that there was no immediate risk to residents.

The Sepulveda Basin is in the process of reopening, and it is expected to be fully reopen by the end of Thursday, however impacted streets include
Burbank Boulevard between the 405 Freeway and Balboa Boulevard, Woodley Avenue between Burbank and Victory boulevards, and Hayvenhurst Avenue and Burbank Boulevard.

The 5 Freeway to the 110 South Interchange remains closed due to flooding or debris.

Officials with the Department of Water and Power reported that, as of 9 a.m. Thursday, approximately 1,456 customers remain without power, and about 100,397 customers have had their power restored in the city.

Communities that remain without power are portions of Mid-Wilshire and Westwood in the metro area, and portions of Reseda, Lake Balboa, Granada
Hills, Canoga Park and Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley. Several of the
outages occurred last night that could be the result of water intrusion into underground electricity or other issues related to the rainstorm, DWP noted.

The city, county and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority activated
six additional shelters for people experiencing homelessness, in addition to its seven seasonal winter shelters.

Mayor Bass directed the use of some recreation and parks shelters in different areas of the city, adding more beds for unhoused Angelenos. These six sites have begun demobilization, and will be returned for youth, family and senior programming. (CNS)