La Canada Update

I just got off the phone with Mom and Dad. They had a horrible night, huge storm, lots of flooding in the streets. So far, their home is still ok, lots of water flowing off hill but not much mud on their property. Many of their neighbors not faring as well. Seven homes were lost during the night in their neighborhood from mudflows. There were also some fatalities in SoCal as people, trying to escape in their cars, hydroplaned and crashed. Some more info in LA Times article here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/

As I was talking to my parents on the phone, the police came to the door and told them to get off the hill ASAP. Another storm cell is moving in, possibly worse than the one that just passed. Mom and Dad were very worried because the flood control folks had not showed up and removed the barriers that allows mud flows to go past house and into street as they have in the past few storms. The reason the emergency crews are not up on the hill is that the flooding and mud on Ocean View is so bad that they are having problems getting trucks and equipment up there. Police have Ocean View closed at Foothill Blvd due to mud, water, and debris in the street, including cars and krails washed down the hill.

The police, who have my sincere thanks, are helping Mom and Dad put up some boards, remove others, and put their bags in the car, so they can get them out of there. I got off the phone and asked Mom to call when they got off the hill and were safe. They cannot go to the Arrowhead house, it is snowed in. They have no idea where they are going, but the first priority is to get off that damn hill. I will keep updating the blog as I get more info...

Greg

Update  10:28am:  http://cbs2.com/local/storm.rain.flood.2.1475006.html

Update 11:09am: Ben Boychuk is providing my best avail. running summary of storm and flood/mud info in #stationfire area right now http://twitter.com/benboychuk/