Evacuation orders and warnings remained in place Monday for some residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties as a record-setting storm continued to relentlessly drop rain across the region, causing mud and debris flows, flooding some streets, knocking out power in select areas and prompting state and local emergency declarations.
The powerful storm system dumped rain over much of the Southland throughout the night, causing damaging mudslides in some hillside areas.
Two homes sustained significant damage in Studio city when mud and debris slid down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting some evacuations.
More mud and debris flows were reported in the Beverly crest area, where six homes were damaged and another was threatened due to a severe debris flow along Beverly Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters helped residents of seven homes evacuate — six adults and nine children. No injuries were reported, but city Building and Safety were assessing the extent of the damage.
Roads leading to and through the Sepulveda Basin were closed, including Burbank Boulevard between the San Diego (405) Freeway and Balboa Boulevard and Woodley Avenue between Burbank and Victory boulevards.
Rocks and boulders were also reported falling on parts of Malibu Canyon Road. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen Canyon roads were closed because of flooding and rock slides.
Stretches of Piuma Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard were also closed due to flooding and debris, with sheriff’s officials reporting several vehicles completely submerged on Piuma.
With rain expected to continue falling throughout the day and into Tuesday, a flash flood warning was issued until 3 p.m. for the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills, with forecasters saying between 5 and 10 inches of rain had already fallen in some areas, increasing the risk of flooding and rock and mudslide activity.
A flood advisory was issued for the rest of L.A. County through 3 p.m. as rain continued falling.
“This additional rainfall will continue to bring additional flooding threats to the region through Tuesday afternoon, resulting in the continuation of the Flood Watch,” according to an NWS statement Monday morning. “Additional rainfall amounts through Tuesday are generally expected to range from 1 to 2 inches for most coastal and valley areas, with 2 to 4 inches in the foothills and mountains. However, L.A. County will likely see higher amounts through Tuesday with an additional 1.50 to 3 inches for coastal/valley areas, and 3 to 5 inches for foothills and mountains. Rain rates between 0.10 and 0.25 inches per hour will be common through Tuesday, however local rates between 0.50 and 1 inches per hour will occur in heavier showers and thunderstorms.”
Los Angeles officials urged residents to stay home and off the roads Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight counties in the state, including Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Los Angeles county later declared its own state of emergency, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday also signed a local emergency declaration.
“Los Angeles County is taking action to protect our communities during the storm and to recover from any impacts that may result,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey P. Horvath said in a statement. “This emergency declaration allows us to move quickly to deploy resources, and it aligns with Governor Newsom’s order issued today. The state, county and the 88 cities of Los Angeles County are working together to keep everyone informed, prepared and safe. Thank you for staying inside and off the roads.”
The emergency proclamation will help expedite procurement of vital supplies and resources, deployment of disaster service workers and the use of emergency protective measures such as evacuation orders.
Los Angeles Unified School District campuses remained open Monday, with the exception of Vinedale Elementary School in Sun Valley and Topanga Elementary Charter School. Classes for Vinedale Elementary were relocated to Glenwood Elementary. Classes for Topanga Elementary were relocated to Woodland Hills Academy. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said district officials would continue to monitor the storm, and plans could change throughout Monday.
At a midday news conference, Carvalho said student attendance was 63% on Monday, but he said 90% of district teachers, bus drivers and classified employees reported for work.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools were closed Monday, with multiple reports of mud and rock flows affecting canyon roads in the area.
On Sunday evening, the California State University system announced some local campuses would be closed or would modify operations on Monday. Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton will all be adjusting operations, with many in-person classes likely shifting online or switching to alternative programming. Students were advised to check with their instructors for specific information.
Long Beach City College closed both its Liberal Arts Campus at 4901 East Carson Street and its Pacific Coast Campus at 1305 E. Pacific Coast Highway on Monday. Students were advised to check to see if their classes will be online, and employees will work remotely.
Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area north of Hollywood Burbank Airport were ordered to evacuate until Tuesday due to the high risk of debris flow triggered by the heavy rain.
The affected area borders Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south, and Ledge Avenue to the west, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Eastbound La Tuna Canyon Road was closed to all but residents in the evacuation area at Ledge Avenue, at Sunland Boulevard, at Honolulu Avenue and the westbound lanes are closed at the Foothill (210) Freeway with only freeway access allowed.
Evacuation centers for people and household pets have opened at Sunland Senior Citizen Center at 8640 Fenwick St. and Lake View Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Blvd. Large animals can be evacuated to Hansen Dam Horse Park at 11127 Orcas Ave. in Lake View Terrace, and the LA Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank.
Earlier evacuation orders were issued for the Owen Fire area, on Santa Maria Road from Topanga Canyon, and the Agua Fire area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road.
Those orders will be in effect through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Additionally, evacuation warnings have been issued for areas of unincorporated Los Angeles County near burn scars through 6 p.m. Tuesday, including the Juniper Hills and Valyermo areas from the Bobcat Fire, and the following areas of Lake Hughes and King Canyon from the Lake Fire:
— 20000 block of Pine Canyon Road;
— 18000 block of Ellstree Drive;
— 46000 block of Kings Canyon Road;
— 18000 block of Newvale Drive; and
— 43000 block of Lake Hughes Road.
The city of Duarte also issued an evacuation warning for an area near the Fish Fire burn scar. That warning will be in effect through 10 a.m. Tuesday for the area on Mel Canyon Road between Fish Canyon Road and Brookridge Road.
In Orange County, a voluntary evacuation warning was issued at 7 p.m. Sunday for Silverado, Williams, Modjeska and Trabuco canyons due to heavy rains. A map with detailed depictions of the areas under evacuation warnings can be found at www.ocsheriff.gov/emergency.
Canyon residents were encouraged to prepare and voluntarily evacuate, especially those with disabilities, access and/or functional needs, and canyon residents with large animals.
Any person with disabilities and those with access and/or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance were asked to call Orange County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.
Orange County Animal Care encouraged animal owners in voluntary evacuation areas to implement their personal evacuation plans. Pet evacuation tips are available at ocpetinfo.com/education-resources/disaster- preparedness. Any person needing assistance with information about animal or large animal evacuations should call Orange County Animal Care at 714-935-6848 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 714-259-1122 after-hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.
To report storm-related issues with a county road or flood control channel, call the Orange County Public Works Storm Center at 714-955-0333 during flash flood events and emergencies when OC Public Works’ Department Operations Center is activated.
With more rain on the way, the storm has already shattered some local rain records.
According to the National Weather Service, 4.10 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, breaking the daily rainfall total for Feb. 4 of 2.55 inches set in 1927. It was the third wettest February day and the 12th wettest day for anytime during the year since 1877, when rainfall totals first started being recorded. The wettest day on record for downtown Los Angeles was 5.88 inches set on March 21, 1938.
A total of 1.76 inches of rain were reported at Los Angeles International Airport Sunday, breaking the record for the day of 0.56 inches set in 1958. There were 1.50 inches of rain reported at Long Beach Airport, breaking the record for the day of 0.69 inches set in 1975.
According to the NWS, more than 10 inches of rain was recorded in Woodland Hills over a two-day period ending Monday morning. Bel Air received nearly 10.6 inches, while Beverly HIlls received more than 7 inches. Some areas in the Santa Monica Mountains received nearly 11 inches.
Thousands of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison customers lost power during the storms, and utility officials said crews were working frantically to restore service.
Newsom’s emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.
The other counties included in the declaration were Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
While many areas saw a notable decrease in rain Monday morning, NWS forecasters warned that more rain is coming.
“The tail end of a powerful atmospheric river storm will bring a threat heavy rain and heavy snow to mostly L.A. County through Tuesday,” forecasters said. “For L.A. County, dangerous flooding is likely today along with several feet of mountain snow through tonight. The storm will taper off Tuesday. Off and on again showers will follow Wednesday through Friday with cooler than normal conditions.”
A winter storm watch will be in effect in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains through Tuesday afternoon, with forecasters predicting as much as 2 to 4 feet of snow above 7,000 feet, as much as 20 inches as low as 6,000 feet, and 8 inches at 5,000 feet. Winds will also gust in that area at 80 mph.
Officials said downed trees and power lines and power outages were also strong possibilities.
A high surf advisory was issued from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Monday at Orange County beaches, and until 9 p.m. Monday at Los Angeles County beaches.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Angelenos to stay home Monday, and said the city has taken a range of preemptive measures, including placing the city’s Emergency Operations Center at Level 2.
The city and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority increased shelter and housing voucher availability to accommodate an influx of homeless people coming in from the storm. Shelters were opened at the Lincoln Heights Senior Citizen Center at 2323 Workman St., Mid Valley Senior Citizen Shelter at 8825 Kester Ave. in Panorama City, South LA Sports Activity Center at 7020 S. Figueroa St. and Oakwood Recreation Center at 767 California Ave. Residents can call 2-1-1 for transportation to a shelter.
The storm was also affecting the recreational activities. Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm were closed Monday. The Getty Center and Villa announced they would be closed Monday. The Los Angeles Zoo is also closed Monday. Disneyland plans to close an hour earlier than scheduled, at 8 p.m.