Thousands ordered to evacuate as powerful storm hits Southern California
FILE PHOTO – Residents evacuate past damaged vehicles after storms caused a mudslide, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
LOS ANGELES – The front end of a major storm system soaked Southern California overnight, prompting a mix of evacuation warnings and orders due to the threat of flooding, mudslides and debris flows.
Flood advisories have been issued for Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties through Thursday evening.
As of Thursday, 32 million people in California remained under flood watches as heavy rain soaked the state, according to NBC News.
National Weather Service (NWS) Meteorologist Ariel Cohen said at a news conference that 4 to 9 p.m. will be the most critical period of the storm.
“That’s the time period when we’re expecting the most intense rains coming through,” Cohen said, adding that the elevated rainfall rates can lead to significant flooding and burn scar debris flows.
A flash flood watch was issued by the NWS for the bulk of Los Angeles County, 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.
Evacuation warnings went into effect at 7 a.m. Thursday for recent burn areas within the city of Los Angeles.
LAPD officers went to each of those affected homes to notify them of the order. Those homeowners also received electronic notifications, and door-hangers were left at their homes if police were unable to contact them.
Additional evacuation warnings were issued in the San Gabriel foothills near the Eaton Fire burn area, affecting thousands of residents. The city of Sierra Madre issued mandatory evacuation orders Thursday morning impacting nearly 1,000 residences.
Mandatory evacuations were also issued for several homes in Altadena, Malibu, San Dimas and Palmdale.
The evacuation orders and warnings were expected to be in effect until Friday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said individual homes in areas patrolled by his agency were also given mandatory evacuation orders if their properties were considered at risk.
Speaking to KNX News Thursday morning, Luna said authorities were taking a “surgical” approach to the mandatory evacuations to specifically target homes considered at heightened danger.
In Orange County, mandatory evacuations were ordered in areas near the Airport Fire burn area. The orders were in effect for Trabuco Canyon, including the RC Airport, fire station, campground/park and school; Bell Canyon, including Starr Ranch; and Hot Springs Canyon, including Lazy-W Ranch. Evacuation warnings were in place for Long Canyon and Modjeska Canyon.
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.
The NWS has described the multi-day storm system as likely to be “the biggest precipitation producer so far this season.” (With CNS report)
