CA - Dozens Missing in Southern California Mudslides, January 2018

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]California rescuers search for victims of deadly mudslides[/h]

(Reuters) - The search for victims of last week’s deadly Southern California mudslides pushed into Monday, with hundreds of rescue workers with dogs and scanners hunting for four people still listed as missing after the rain-driven slides that killed 20 people.
Emergency officials said hopes were diminishing that they would pull more survivors from the ravaged landscape of hardened muck, boulders and twisted debris left behind by the Tuesday mudslides that scoured a landscape already left barren by last year’s record-setting wildfires.

“We’re still out there with search and rescue crews who will continue to work until we can account for those four still missing,” Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokeswoman Amber Anderson said in a phone interview.
The mudslides that scoured the affluent community of Montecito, 85 miles (137 km) northwest of Los Angeles, caused the greatest loss of life from a California mudslide in at least 13 years.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...for-victims-of-deadly-mudslides-idUSKBN1F42AF

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]'Lost within a moment's time': 20 dead in California mudslide includes father, his son and father-in-law[/h]

A young father became the latest known victim of the California mudslides as his body was found after those of two other members of his family -- his 6-year-old son and his father-in-law --- and with his 2-year-old daughter still missing.

Pinit “Oom” Sutthithepa, 30, was missing until Saturday afternoon when recovery teams discovered his body, bringing the death toll to 20 from the devastating mudslide in the affluent enclave of Montecito north of Los Angeles.

Among the 20 are also Sutthithepa's 6-year-old son, Peerawat, and his 79-year-old father-in-law, Richard Loring Taylor, according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s summary report.
His 2-year-old daughter, Lydia, meanwhile remains among four people still missing, an update from the county confirmed.
A candlelight vigil for all of the victims drew thousands Sunday night in Montecito.
"Tonight, we need to mourn," Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams said. "It is breathtakingly horrible. Our community is going through something it has never gone through."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lost-moments-time-20-dead-california-mudslide-includes/story?id=52355602

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Residents grieve and commit to rebuilding after mudslides[/h]

MONTECITO >> At the end of a heartbreaking week that saw deadly mudslides kill at least 20, residents of Montecito gathered to grieve, pay tribute to victims and commit to rebuilding their cherished community on the Southern California coast.



Mourners lit prayer candles and left flowers as a makeshift memorial for the victims after shedding tears, hugs and prayers during the vigil outside the Santa Barbara County courthouse.



“I don’t know about you, but I’m scared of Mother Nature right now,” Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo told the attendees at the vigil.



Bethany Harris, who lives in Santa Barbara, brought her two young sons to the vigil because she wanted to make sure they understood the impact the devastating storm has had on the community, she said.


“We all know someone who has been affected by this,” she said. “We will heal together.”


Before a moment of silence, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams read out the names of each of the 20 victims.

Read more: http://www.morningjournal.com/gener...ieve-and-commit-to-rebuilding-after-mudslides

 

[MsFacetious]

The thought of Lydia out there alone is heart breaking. She's the same age as my little boy. :tears:

 

[DakotaMayi]

The thought of Lydia out there alone is heart breaking. She's the same age as my little boy. :tears:

It's just terrible, for all. I cannot image the pain little Lydia's mother is feeling right now.

 

[shana]

One of my wishes came true!

MISSING REDUCED TO 3 IN MONTECITO MUDSLIDES

53-year-old John “Jack” Keating has been located safely in Ventura with his dog “Tiny” and is no longer on the active missing person list. Keating is a transient and was in Carpinteria, not Montecito, during the storm.

 

[shana]

Thanks to everyone who contributed positive thoughts, hope, and compassion to the threads.

Our Voluntary Evac was changed to Mandatory this past Thursday. We are back at the same hotel in SLO where we fled just weeks ago. Our beauteous GSD and cat are once again at a nearby boarding kennel.

I had no internet until I got here but was able to follow coverage since the disaster on our local tv channel KEYT. The damage is far worse when viewed in-person than it is on-screen.

I will write later my views on victim/survivor blaming - shameful! Now is not the time.

~jmo~

 

[IQuestion]

Thanks to everyone who contributed positive thoughts, hope, and compassion to the threads.

Our Voluntary Evac was changed to Mandatory this past Thursday. We are back at the same hotel in SLO where we fled just weeks ago. Our beauteous GSD and cat are once again at a nearby boarding kennel.

I had no internet until I got here but was able to follow coverage since the disaster on our local tv channel KEYT. The damage is far worse when viewed in-person than it is on-screen.

I will write later my views on victim/survivor blaming - shameful! Now is not the time.

~jmo~

SHANA...bbm I have to agree with you, the "photos" can not/ do not come close to conveying the actual devastation. I would invite you to town for a break, but alas the 101 Highway is still closed, you can't come South, and I can't go North!
Did you receive "mandatory evac" via radio, TV, reverse 911, Text, door-to-door, info from neighbors?? Just curious about what "process" is being used and which do you feel are most effective. How large an area....and/or is it just in low lying areas? Any idea on how long the evacuation order will be in effect? Were you following the Thomas Fire thread earlier? (Our area is still under Curfew Enforcement ie, if you don't have an ID showing you live/lived in the area. We are allowed to sift through the ashes of our property during daylight hours, only.) Geez, I have so many questions....that's why they call me IQ...short for I-Question-a-lot.
Right now, I think you are our only "eyes & boots-on-the-ground" poster in Santa Barbara/Montecito.... I truly appreciate your first hand reports. Hope to hear from you tomorrow....get a good night's rest. IQ

 

[IQuestion]

"Creeks and streams can be easily overwhelmed by these flows, as can streets and homes located below hillsides. The increased flood risk may last five years or more until the vegetation is restored."
Excellent resource for information:http://venturacountyrecovers.org/preparing-for-rain-after-a-wildfire/

 

[Gardener1850]

Montecito mudslides: one story of luck, loss and narrow escapes

https://www.scpr.org/news/2018/01/17/79878/montecito-mudslides-one-story-of-luck-loss-and-nar/

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=3]Number of homes destroyed in Montecito mudslides doubles to 115[/h]

Officials say seven people remain hospitalized a week after they were injured in mudslides that devastated the coastal California town of Montecito, killing 20.
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital says that as of Monday evening, two of the seven still undergoing treatment were in critical condition. Three people including a 2-year-old girl remain missing. Twenty-eight patients have been treated and released.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2018/01/16/79851/7-still-hospitalized-a-week-after-deadly-montecito/

 

[Gardener1850]

Montecito family who lost home in mudslide finds missing cat in rubble

They lost their home and all of their possessions in the devastating Montecito mudslides, but Lindsey and Woody Thompson said they held out hope they would be reunited with their cat, Koshka.

The Thompsons didn't know if they were going to survive the mudslide earlier this month, and they said their goodbyes to each other, ABC Los Angeles reports. Because the road outside their house was wiped out, they had to be airlifted to safety, and once they were settled they immediately asked for help finding Koshka. "We knew that she was alive and we knew that she was smart and she would find a safe spot to be and she did," Woody Thompson said.

http://theweek.com/speedreads/74913...o-lost-home-mudslide-finds-missing-cat-rubble

 

[Gardener1850]

Montecito to Open Center to Help Residents in Aftermath of Mudslides

The County Office of Emergency Management will open a center Wednesday at the Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara through Feb. 3. The assistance center aims to help residents get their mail, figure out how to file insurance claims and more.

The center will be open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/...ents-in-Aftermath-of-Mudslides-469714753.html

 

[IQuestion]

I can't sleep, but thought I would update search efforts to include recently released information. The body of the beautiful young Mother, Faviola Benitez Calderon, was recovered on Saturday.
So much sorrow. Rest in peace darling woman.
http://ktla.com/2018/01/20/montecit...ter-body-of-28-year-old-mother-is-discovered/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faviol...ther-who-went-missing-in-montecito-mudslides/

 

[Gardener1850]

I can't sleep, but thought I would update search efforts to include recently released information. The body of the beautiful young Mother, Faviola Benitez Calderon, was recovered on Saturday.
So much sorrow. Rest in peace darling woman.
http://ktla.com/2018/01/20/montecit...ter-body-of-28-year-old-mother-is-discovered/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faviol...ther-who-went-missing-in-montecito-mudslides/

RIP Faviola :rose:

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Highway 101 reopens in Montecito after long closure from deadly mudslide[/h]

Highway 101 reopened Sunday after a nearly two-week closure triggered by Montecito's deadly mudslide had choked off most vehicle travel between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

The roadway had been buried by water, mud and debris that was 12 feet deep in some places, Caltrans officials said, with a quarter-mile section at Olive Mill Road the hardest hit. The cleanup effort had been running 24 hours a day.

More than 100,000 cubic yards of material was removed from the 101, said Caltrans' Chris Chalk during a press briefing Sunday afternoon.
"This is the culmination of an extraordinary amount of hard work," said Chalk, maintenance manager for Caltrans' District 5.

California Highway Patrol officials urged drivers to allow extra time. The highway will continue to be crowded with trucks cleaning up the disaster.
"Your commute will be delayed due to heavy truck traffic in this area," said CHP Capt. Cindy Pontes during the briefing.
While the 101 is now back online, most off ramps into the Montecito area are still closed. Sections of Highway 192 and many surface streets in the community are also closed or mired in mud and debris.

Twenty-one people were killed. Two are still missing. At least 129 homes have been destroyed and more than 300 others damaged, according to an evolving tally.

http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/lo...ter-long-closure-deadly-mudslides/1052292001/

 

[margarita25]

California mudslide victims still dealing with insurance headaches
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-mudslide-victims-insurance-headaches/

"SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --*It's been a month since*mudslides killed at least 20 people*and destroyed more than a hundred homes on the California coast. Torrential rain washed out hillsides torched bare by a massive wildfire, and some insurance companies have been slow to connect the disasters and cover the victims."

Snip

"The damage was extensive, but when she called her insurance company, USAA, this was the response: "He said, 'we don't cover this type of problem,' and that was it," Prinz said."

Snip

"Jones said most who lost their homes to wildfires were fully covered, while homeowners with mud damage are still waiting because they didn't buy flood insurance. But state law is clear when one disaster leads to another.

"The indications are that the fires did cause the mudslides and that they should pay claims," Jones said."

 

[margarita25]

"While insurance companies continue to investigate these claims, homeowners here are bracing for another round of storms. There's rain in the forecast next week, and officials warn this can easily happen again."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-mudslide-victims-insurance-headaches/

 

[margarita25]

Santa Barbara authorities on edge with light rain expected across Southern California
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-barbara-rainfall-20180211-story.html

"Santa Barbara County officials are asking people who live in the debris flow areas to*sign up online to receive emergency alerts*in case heavier showers develop. Public evacuations are not anticipated, county officials said Sunday.

"The difficulty when you have a burn area is that any amount of rain always makes you nervous," Hoxsie said. "We are not expecting much but it is still nerve-racking."

The rain is expected to be the heaviest Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, she said."

 

[margarita25]

"But search efforts are still underway, Kelly Hoover, the public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, told Fox News on Feb. 9. At least two people -- Lydia Sutthithepa, 2, and John “Jack” Cantin, 17 – remain missing, she said."

California mudslides: Where and why they happen
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/09/california-mudslides-where-and-why-happen.html