Evacuations And Rescues Across California As Heavy Rain Triggers Fears Of Mudslides, Flash Floods

Hundreds of homes in several counties across California were issued evacuation orders Tuesday as heavy rain swept through the state, triggering fears of potential flash floods and landslides in areas affected by wildfires this year.

In southern Los Angeles’ Orange County, about 800 canyon homes were placed under evacuation orders Tuesday, Associated Press reported. Before the evacuation orders were issued, a flash flood warning was also issued in the said area, which was scorched last year by a wildfire.

Similar orders were issued for residents in eastern Los Angeles’ San Bernardino Mountains following rockslide reports. Mud and debris shut down a mountain route in Big Bear until Wednesday. In the Silverado Canyon, also in Orange County, sheriff deputies were deployed to rescue residents from mudslide-swamped homes.

Evacuation orders are still in effect in Orange County’s William Canyons, Silverado, and Modjeska, the county’s fire authority announced. While no casualties or injuries have been reported so far, videos from the scene at Silverado Canyon showed firefighters rescuing residents trapped in their homes as strong currents of mudslides ripped through houses.

Forecasts noted that cloudy skies should be expected Wednesday as the region prepares for another smaller storm system to come through by Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The flood watches issued for Alisal, Palisades, Bobcat, Ranch 2, Dam and Lake have all been lifted, but residents are still urged to stay alert.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of “numerous hazards” expected from what it calls an “intense system,” including “heavy rainfall and flooding in southern California to a large-scale high wind event from the central Rockies into the Plains and MS Valley” through Wednesday.

In its latest update on rainfall records, the NWS Los Angeles revealed that multiple daily rainfall records were set Tuesday. Santa Barbara saw 1.44 inches of rain, breaking the previous record of 0.61 inches in 2002. The Los Angeles Airport broke its 1993 record of 0.38 inches after 1.29 inches of rainfall Tuesday. In Burbank, 1.81 inches of rain was recorded, trashing the previous record of 0.29 inches in 1965. Santa Maria witnessed 1.13 inches of rain, dissolving the 1993 record at 0.75 inches.