Limited Damage with Some Road Closures from Friday’s Storm

Photos: Mike Eliason / SBCFD

Officials are reporting limited damage so far in the early Friday morning rainstorm that hit the wildfire burn areas.

The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has monitored the latest winter storm for impacts. The following assessment is preliminary and will be updated later this morning.

“The worst of the storm has passed and we are cautiously optimistic that due to a significant amount of pre-storm preparation we have come through this with minimal impact,” said Rob Lewin, director of the Office of Emergency Management.

“Crews are currently completing assessment of all roads, debris basins, condition of utilities and other public facilities for damage or impact,” he said. Said Tom Fayram, deputy director of Santa Barbara County Department of Public Works and overseeing the County Flood Control District, “If not for the channel clearing performed since the 1/9 Debris Flow, we would have had problems with this storm.”

Below is a video of a Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Dept Engine crossing the Arroyo Paredon Creek Friday morning as runoff from rain continues.The bridge was damaged during the January 9th debris flow and is closed to all but emergency vehicles. Overnight rain did not produce heavy debris flow in the area, reports Mike Eliason of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

#CAwx– A Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Dept Engine crosses Arroyo Paredon Creek Friday morning as runoff from rain continues.The bridge was damaged during the 1/9 debris flow and is closed to all but emergency vehicles.Overnight rain did not produce heavy debris flow in the area. pic.twitter.com/fJjW7JX7pk

— SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) March 2, 2018

Traffic Impacts

• Romero Canyon Road – closed at Romero Creek crossing due to debris flow 6:30am 3/2 until further notice.
• Reports of some water and small amounts of debris reported on Hwy 192 at East Valley Road. Clean up taking place and expected to be cleared shortly.
• The 1700 block of SR 192 and SR 192 at Bella Vista Drive are both flooded.
• State Route 33, above the city of Ojai is CLOSED at Fairview Road until approximately 6:00 pm Friday due to mud and debris flow resulting from rainfall.

Facts

• The rainfall slightly exceeded the projected total: a rate of 0.6 of an inch of rain per hour was received
• Highway 101 remained open all night
• 87 percent of residents in the Extreme Risk Area did evacuate
• 200 fire and National Guard personnel were on-scene overnight, including a swift water rescue unit, high profile vehicles, excavators, urban search and rescue, etc.
• Coast Guard and Santa Barbara County Air Support were on standby
• 26 were in the Red Cross evacuation center as of midnight at Earl Warren Showgrounds Impacts:
• At 5:40 a.m. the 1700 block of Highway 192 and Highway 192 at Bella Vista Drive were flooded. Crews are on scene working to clear these issues.
• MTD and Easy-Lift were on standby overnight to provide transportation assistance for individuals who may have become isolated

Preliminary Report for Utilities for Friday, March 2:

• SCE – no damage
• SoCalGas – no damage
• Montecito Water District – no damage
• Montecito Sanitary District – no damage

Schools Status for Friday, March 2 (partial list; families should contact schools directly for updates):

• UCSB – classes in session
• Santa Barbara City College – classes in session
• Westmont – classes in session beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• Santa Barbara Unified School District – classes in session
• Carpinteria Unified School District – closed
• Montecito Union – classes in session at 3 Hope School District sites
• Cold Spring – classes in session at El Rancho Elementary in Goleta
• Laguna Blanca Lower – classes in session at Girls Inc. in Goleta
• Mt. Carmel – classes to be held at Notre Dame in Santa Barbara
• Cate School – on spring break