Anonymous
Update by edhat staff
The new Debris Flow Risk Map has been released ahead of Thursday night’s public meeting. The full map is available at ReadySBC.org and through this link.
The highlighted areas on the new map indicate what areas will be evacuated if a storm is forecasted that may cause a debris flow. Officials state that in the event of a rapidly developing storm with little to no warning, residents living in the risk areas should have a plan to protect themselves and their family if it is not safe to evacuate.
The updated map significantly reduces the highlighted risk areas from earlier this year. The reduction is partly due to vegetation regrowth in the Thomas Fire burn areas.
Local officials are hosting a public informational meeting tonight, Thursday, December 5, at Montecito Union School (385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara) beginning at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be streamed live on the County’s CSBTV cable channel 20 and YouTube at www.YouTube.com/user/CSBTV20.
Source: County of Santa Barbara
The Montecito Fire Department, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District, and 1st District Supervisor Das Williams is inviting the public to attend a community informational meeting in advance of the winter storm season.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5 at Montecito Union School, 385 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara. The meeting will be streamed live on the County’s CSBTV cable channel 20 and YouTube at www.YouTube.com/user/CSBTV20.
The purpose of this community meeting is to publicly release the Interactive Debris Flow Risk Map that identifies properties in our communities that may be at risk from debris flow or flooding this storm season. This map will be utilized by local emergency managers to determine what portions of the community will be evacuated if necessary this winter.
The risk map is in the process of being updated to include the most up-to-date scientific research and data gathered following the Thomas Fire and the 1/9 Debris Flow.
If a storm is forecasted that may cause a debris flow, the risk area will be evacuated. In the event of a rapidly developing storm with little to no warning, residents living in the risk areas should have a plan to protect themselves and their family if it is not safe to evacuate.
The new interactive map will be located online at www.ReadySBC.org beginning December 5, 2019. For more information on the updated risk map, please contact the Montecito Fire Department at (805) 969-7762.
Also on ReadySBC.org, residents and visitors should register for emergency alerts and download Storm Ready-Set-Go preparedness tips.
For assistance developing a family safety plan, contact a local fire department or go to https://www.ready.gov/.
Related Articles
- November 5, 2019: Debris Flow Map Released in December
- July 17, 2019: Updated Debris Flow Risk Map Expected in October
Unfortunately, the federal government–i.e., tax payers–takes on much of the financial risk, making it profitable to build in flood plains. There was an excellent Fresh Air segment on this recently.
Following the devastating debris flow that killed 23 people, the Sheriff and former OEM Director were praised as heroes. The County Exec was given a pay raise. But no one talks about the fact that 19 of the dead were in a “voluntary evacuation zone”, based on an egregious lack of judgement that ridiculously assumed the debris flow would stop at Highway 192.
Shasta Guy. Yes! Using Highway 192 as a demarcation line for a debris flow was just plain dumb. Mud, rocks and debris will flow from the top of the hill (burn scar) to the bottom of the hill (ocean). The 19 victims south of Highway 192 got bad information from the County. No one will ever know how many of them would’ve left if they’d been ordered, but the fact remains that they trusted “experts” who didn’t know what they were doing. Period.
How do we stop our county from zoning land and then approving construction of homes where none should ever be built? Buyer beware, but I had no access to info from so-called “professional realtor” prior to purchase. What can we do to ensure these red zone maps must be provided prospective home buyers? Will County also develop maps of homes built on unstable soil subject to slippage; and one in the ocean climate warming flood zone? We all should be able to cut our property tax valuations in half!
If County leaders were aware and well informed about 1969, why wasn’t 1969 disaster info shared with media for inclusion with coverage? Seems like bad communication; or major staff oversight. The County Administrator/ CEO failed us.
We used to have creeks meandering gracefully to the sea. Now we’ve got debris flow channels managed by over thinking computer software zealots.
Thank you. After years of drought, and following weeks of the Thomas Fire (wearing smoke masks), some of us were not in the 1969 mindset for a heavy downpour, or storm blast. The last storm I experienced was around 1989 or 1992,. I didn’t live here in 1969, and never heard about it until 12/2017 from a neighbor, who lived through it in Montecito. Any info and photos the County or media had shared of past storms would have heightened alerts. The link to the County website 1969 Storm Report was worth viewing.