Flooding Shuts Down Sepulveda Basin; Mud Flows Reported In Glendora
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Residents in Los Angeles and across Southern California were urged to stay prepared as the Southland was hit with heavy rains Tuesday.
Mayor Eric Garcetti and other city officials said while there weren't any major problems from the precipitation, residents should remain prepared.
"So far things seem to be holding relatively well," Garcetti said at a morning news conference, during which he announced that the city's Emergency
Operations Center had been activated.
As of midday, city operations are so far continuing as normal, and trash collection will continue as normal. City officials have said previously that they might consider suspending trash pickups to prevent cans and debris from being washed into storm drains during rainstorms.
At least three trees were downed this morning from the rain, according to Garcetti, with more likely to come down as the precipitation continues.
Flooding was reported in the Sepulveda Basin -- a flood-control area along the Los Angeles River -- resulting in street closures in the area, although Garcetti noted that the basin is designed to collect rain runoff.
At least one vehicle stuck in several feet of water had to be retrieved out of the basin.
The city of Malibu says rocks fell on the road through Malibu Canyon, damaging four vehicles. The route through the steep Santa Monica Mountains is a heavily traveled commuter route, and the city says drivers should expect delays.
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To the northwest, flooding has closed about a mile of beachside Harbor Boulevard in the city of Ventura. Police Cmdr. Tom Higgins says water is about a foot deep.
Residents of the Silverado Canyon burn area in Orange County and the Solimar burn area in Ventura County have been told they may want to evacuate in advance of the storms, but have not been ordered to do so. A flash-flood watch for wildfire burn areas is in effect through late Wednesday.
CBS2/KCAL9's Jasmine Viel reported mandatory evacuations would be put in place in Camarillo Springs if rainfall totals spiked above a half-inch per hour. Voluntary evacuations were lifted shortly before noon.
Mud and debris flows were also reported in several burn areas, including along Rainbow Drive in Glendora, according to KNX 1070's Jon Baird.
In response to the rain -- and more precipitation anticipated this week -- Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument officials closed multiple recreation areas, including Rowher Flats and Drinkwater Off Highway Vehicle areas, the South Fork, Big Rock, Gould Mesa, and Coldbrook campgrounds, and the Bridge to Nowhere Trail.
"Additional closures may be implemented at any time based on storm impacts," said Nathan Judy of the Angeles National Forest. "Staff will assess
the conditions following the storms and decide then whether these areas can be reopened for weekend use."
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