Fil-Ams warned about flooding as storm soaks Southern California
FILE PHOTO – An aerial view of the Los Angeles River swollen by storm runoff last year. Flood warnings are in effect Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in LA. (Mario Tama/AFP)
LOS ANGELES – Filipino Americans have been warned about flooding as a potentially dangerous storm bears down on Southern California.
“Filipinos in affected areas are strongly encouraged to heed warnings from local authorities and monitor developments,” stated an advisory from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.
Evacuation warnings will take effect in multiple areas Thursday amid fears that steady downpours could spark flooding, mudslides and debris flows.
“Flood watches and flash flood warnings are in effect for parts of Southern California from early morning to late evening on Thursday, 13 February 2025,” the advisory said.
The Consulate alerted Fil-Ams to the flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service for the bulk of Los Angeles County for Thursday, with forecasters saying flooding and debris flows are possible, with the greatest risk in or near the Eaton, Palisades/Franklin and Bridge fire burn scars.
The brunt of the storm — which began with generally light rainfall across the region Wednesday — is expected to hit the Los Angeles area around mid-afternoon Thursday, about three to six hours earlier than previous predictions.
A flood watch will also be in effect Thursday for most of Orange County.
In anticipation of the wet weather, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced that evacuation warnings will take effect at 7 a.m. Thursday for areas near recent burn areas.
The warnings will impact:
— Palisades Fire area: the Getty Villa area, Highlands near the burn areas, Bienveneda area near Temescal Canyon Park, Reseda Boulevard area/Marinette Road near Will Rogers State Park, and Mandeville Canyon above Tanners Road;
— Sunset Fire area in the Hollywood Hills: east and south of Runyon Canyon;
— Hurst Fire area near Sylmar: Olive Lane in the Oakridge Mobile Home Park.
Fire officials said specific homes considered to be at high risk will be subject to mandatory evacuation orders. Those residents will be contacted directly by the LAFD. The evacuation warnings are expected to be in effect until at least 2 p.m. Friday, depending on the storm.
All Malibu campuses in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be closed Thursday “due to road closures and weather concerns.” District officials said the closure may extend into Friday depending on weather conditions.
In Orange County, evacuation warnings will take effect in multiple areas at Thursday for areas near the Airport Fire burn scar. The voluntary evacuation warnings will be in effect for Trabuco Canyon, Hot Springs Canyon, Bell Canyon, Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon. Residents in those areas were “strongly encouraged” to evacuate by 8 a.m. Thursday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said evacuation warnings are also likely to be issued for residents near the Eaton Fire burn area in Altadena and Pasadena, but none had been issued as of mid-afternoon Wednesday.
LA County public works crews have been working for days to prepare for the storm — emptying debris basins, clearing storm drains and distributing sandbags to residents.
In the Eaton Fire burn zone, the county Department of Public Works and the sheriff’s department have also been warning residents living in homes that may be at high risk of damage from mudslides or flooding, and advising them to prepare to evacuate.
“Please, if evacuation orders are made, … keep your safety in mind,” Luna said. “They help to protect you and your loved ones from potential danger. Storms can bring sudden and severe conditions that make staying back home extremely risky. … Please take necessary steps now to prepare. Pack an emergency kit, secure important documents and ensure that you have a plan in place for your pets and family members.
“And remember, if you’re ordered to leave, you may be gone for several days. I cannot stand up here and tell you will be gone for 12 hours, 24 hours. We don’t know. It depends on the weather and the post-weather events that will impact your specific neighborhood.”
Luna said deputies have also been canvassing flood-prone areas such as the Los Angeles River to warn homeless people who may be camped there to relocate.
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`Unfortunately, we witnessed numerous, numerous instances in the past of swift-water rescues where people were caught in dangerous, fast moving water, and obviously, we want to prevent that,” he said.
The NWS has described the multi-day storm system as likely to be “the biggest precipitation producer so far this season.”
