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Mandatory Evacuation Ordered For Residents On Ridge View Drive In Azusa

AZUSA (CBSLA.com) — A mandatory evacuation order has been issued Friday for all residents on Ridge View Drive in Azusa.

The police order was prompted by unstable ground and a new storm cell heading to the area, which could cause problems for dozens of homes.

The hillside had a lot of movement Friday afternoon, with mud and debris making its way to the ground, Sky2's Stu Mundel reported.

Residents were hoping for the best, but expecting the worst from the storm and mudslides.

"I used to work in roofing and I know that water goes to the path of least resistance," Linda Heinlein said.

"Our patio up there is about 5,000 square feet. We might have a foot or two of mud up there. Which is a big deal, right? But this is a whole different situation. There's nothing you can do. We already have 4 feet of mud in there, and this is just a light rain, and it's just the debris field," Ed Heinlein.

Asked if he's insured, Ed said, "There's no such thing as mud or flood insurance. All of a sudden they're religious. [They say], 'Act of God.'"

Philip Poblet said he and his wife left their home together.

"We were forced to leave our house because of the danger, the mountain is going to crumble and fall," Poblet said.

The couple's son, Daniel, stayed behind.

"The forecast is supposed to be more rain over the weekend. There's a possibility the mud water could go to 6 feet," Daniel said.

Resident Dennis Sanderson told KCAL9's Bobby Kaple that he is making arrangements to stay somewhere else while the storm system goes by.

"I was told by the police department that if we didn't leave, they'll have to do a recovery, not a rescue. We might be going down to a local hotel, a neighbor or my mom's place. The mud flow is stopped for now, but that doesn't mean it won't start up tonight," he said.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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