USA Today, by Christopher Cann, Minnah Arshad, Terry Collins, and Thao Nguyen: An atmospheric river was pummeling Southern California with heavy rain on Thursday, prompting evacuations and school closures as heavy mudslides and flooding hit areas charred by the wildfires that broke out across the region last month.
The evacuation warnings and orders were active in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties, as well as in several communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in San Bernardino County. In Santa Barbara, people living in at-risk areas were told to leave by 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said on X around 5 p.m. local time that the storm was “rapidly intensifying” over Los Angeles County. By 8 p.m., the weather service said all flood products were canceled for southwest California after heavy rain moved out of the region.
“However, please keep in mind that mud and rock slides can still happen well after the rain has ended,” the weather service warned. “Also continue to obey all road closures.”
The Pacific Coast Highway will remain closed between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace until further notice due to the heavy flooding and mudslides, according to the California Department of Transportation.
Shortly after 5 p.m., a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department had his vehicle “swept off the road and into the ocean by a large debris flow” while driving in Malibu, said spokesperson Erik Scott. He was able to exit his vehicle and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to Scott.
Residents were urged to monitor emergency updates, prepare to evacuate by collecting important documents and medicine, and promptly flee their homes if they are told to do so.
“When you’re given an evacuation order, heed the order and leave as soon as you can. Nothing that you have back home is worth your life,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna at a news conference Wednesday. “If you decide to stay in your property in an evacuated area, debris from the burn scar areas and storm may impede roads and we may not be able to reach you.”
Intense fires can cause soil to develop a layer that repels water, “like rain on pavement,” according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Rain that would normally be absorbed into the ground instead runs off, increasing the risk of flash floods, mudslides and debris flows.
City and state officials had announced a slew of measures to mitigate damage in the burn areas, including the installation of thousands of feet of concrete barriers to halt the progress of any possible mudflows. Hundreds of personnel were prepositioned to assist in the disaster response.
Prophetic Link:
“We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.” Prophets and Kings, page 278.
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