California mudslides buried the street! Flooding and rockslide causing major damage
The latest Pacific storm unleashed torrential downpours and damaging winds in California, turning city streets into rivers as mudslides cut off highways. More than 20 million people across California are under flood alerts as the risk of mudslides also spreads to the Los Angeles and San Diego areas.
Officials issued immediate evacuation orders for the entire community of Montecito, as well as for parts of Santa Barbara and other nearby towns, because of heightened flood and mudslide hazards.
The Montecito evacuation zone was among 17 California regions where authorities worry the ongoing torrential downpours could unleash lethal cascades of mud, boulders, and other debris in the hillsides.
In the Rancho Oso area of the Santa Ynez Mountains, mud and debris across the roadway isolated about 400 people. Some areas saw mudslides close to roads and covered cars. The neighborhood saw a flow of debris estimated to be 1.5 meters tall.
In Ventura County, north of Los Angeles, mudslides trapped a big rig and other vehicles on State Route 126. The local media reported the rain washed 3 feet of mud and rock across the road.