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Mudslides sweep away cars, assault homes near LA
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2010, Sunday
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THUNDEROUS mudslides damaged dozens of homes, swept away cars and pushed furniture into the streets of the foothills north of Los Angeles as intense winter rain poured down mountains denuded by a summer wildfire.
No injuries were reported by last night but residents and emergency responders were caught off guard by the unpredicted ferocity of the storm, which damaged more than 40 homes and dozens of vehicles.
About 800 homes across Los Angeles County were evacuated for much of the day after heavy rains at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains overflowed debris basins, carried away cement barricades and filled houses with mud and rocks.
Residents of all but about 70 of those homes were allowed to return home under clear skies last night as another round of rains proved tame and moved on quickly.
Some residents of La Canada Flintridge complained they were not told to get out until the brunt of the damage was done - unlike during heavy rains last month when officials repeatedly warned foothill communities to be on alert.
The storm's payload came between 4 am and 5 am Markgraf said she only got an alert around 10:30 am, though officials later said that warning was to prepare residents for a second band of rain.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said by the time officials saw how serious the storm was, it was too late to order evacuations and it was determined that it would be safer for people to shelter in their homes.
Rainfall totals topped 4 inches (10 centimeters) in a 24 hour period in some areas, the National Weather Service said. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Matt Levesque said forecasters and county and city officials did not anticipate the magnitude of the slow-moving storm.
Several residents said they woke up around 4 am to the sound of crashing and rain pounding on their rooftops.
"It was like thunder," said Dave Becica, whose house was undamaged. "I said, I hope that's not the mountain coming down. It was the mountain."
Twelve homes had major damage, 31 others received minor or moderate damage and 25 cars were damaged, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said. Nine of the homes were declared uninhabitable.
Half way along Ocean View Boulevard, where the hillside road flattens out, a jumble of 12 cars and trucks had come to a stop after being washed down the road. A silver sport utility vehicle lay on top of a flattened Toyota, both completely mangled.
Looming above the damaged houses were the wildfire-scarred mountain slopes, still blackened from wildfires.
Widespread flooding and downed trees tied up traffic and caused accidents across Los Angeles County. At least three fatalities were reported after vehicles hydroplaned and crashed on Los Angeles County freeways, and water almost a foot deep flowed into businesses on Melrose Avenue.
No injuries were reported by last night but residents and emergency responders were caught off guard by the unpredicted ferocity of the storm, which damaged more than 40 homes and dozens of vehicles.
About 800 homes across Los Angeles County were evacuated for much of the day after heavy rains at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains overflowed debris basins, carried away cement barricades and filled houses with mud and rocks.
Residents of all but about 70 of those homes were allowed to return home under clear skies last night as another round of rains proved tame and moved on quickly.
Some residents of La Canada Flintridge complained they were not told to get out until the brunt of the damage was done - unlike during heavy rains last month when officials repeatedly warned foothill communities to be on alert.
The storm's payload came between 4 am and 5 am Markgraf said she only got an alert around 10:30 am, though officials later said that warning was to prepare residents for a second band of rain.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said by the time officials saw how serious the storm was, it was too late to order evacuations and it was determined that it would be safer for people to shelter in their homes.
Rainfall totals topped 4 inches (10 centimeters) in a 24 hour period in some areas, the National Weather Service said. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Matt Levesque said forecasters and county and city officials did not anticipate the magnitude of the slow-moving storm.
Several residents said they woke up around 4 am to the sound of crashing and rain pounding on their rooftops.
"It was like thunder," said Dave Becica, whose house was undamaged. "I said, I hope that's not the mountain coming down. It was the mountain."
Twelve homes had major damage, 31 others received minor or moderate damage and 25 cars were damaged, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said. Nine of the homes were declared uninhabitable.
Half way along Ocean View Boulevard, where the hillside road flattens out, a jumble of 12 cars and trucks had come to a stop after being washed down the road. A silver sport utility vehicle lay on top of a flattened Toyota, both completely mangled.
Looming above the damaged houses were the wildfire-scarred mountain slopes, still blackened from wildfires.
Widespread flooding and downed trees tied up traffic and caused accidents across Los Angeles County. At least three fatalities were reported after vehicles hydroplaned and crashed on Los Angeles County freeways, and water almost a foot deep flowed into businesses on Melrose Avenue.
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