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2018 January Storm Information
Important Announcements
- Disaster Recovery Center Opening on February 5
- VALLEY FEVER ("COCCI") CONCERNS AFTER THOMAS FIRE AND MUDSLIDE EVENT
-
Health Effects of Ash and Dust - Leaf Blowers Not Advised in Areas with Ash and Drying Mud
- CALTRANS UPDATE: State Route 192 Resurfacing Project Continues This Week For Surface Grinding. Additionally Highway 192 clean-up efforts continue with plans to repair and rebuild several bridges. For more information, see the Caltrans website and scroll down to Santa Barbara County.
- MONTECITO WATER DISTRICT UPDATE: A Boil Water Notice is in effect for a few isolated areas of the Montecito Water District. The Interactive
District Boundary Map depicts areas where the Boil Water Notice is in effect and has been cancelled. Further information on water treatment can be found at
www.montecitowater.com. Emergency bottled water is being distributed to Montecito Water District customers under the Boil Water Notice.
Locations and more information can be found on the
District Web Site.
Recovery Resources and Storm Readiness Information
Disaster Recovery Center Opening on February 5
Returning to Your Neighborhood: January 2018 Storm Event - This guide provides residents returning to their homes information on home hazards after flood, safe cleaning tips, and more.
Mud Flow Cleanup - Waste Removal Options
Be RAIN READY - view Storm Preparedness and Recovery Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on January 2018 Storm
Santa Barbara County Evacuation Notices
Interactive Evacuation Map/Mapa Interactivo de Evacuación
EXCLUSION ZONES FOR AREAS OF MONTECITO DEFINED AS DECLARED DISASTER ZONES Press Release
EVACUATION ORDER LIFTED for ADDITIONAL AREAS OF MONTECITO (January 27) Press Release
EVACUATION ORDER LIFTS CONTINUE FOR MONTECITO AND UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE COUNTY WEST OF CARPINTERIA (January 26) Press Release
EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS TO BE LIFTED FOR PARTS OF MONTECITO (January 25) Press Release
EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS TO BE LIFTED FOR PARTS OF MONTECITO (January 24) Press Release
EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS LIFTED FOR PARTS OF MONTECITO. (January 22) Press Release
EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS LIFTED FOR WHITTIER, SHERPA, AND ALAMO BURN AREAS (January 13). Press Release.
View the press release archive for earlier notices
FEMA Disaster Assistance and Registration
News Release: Local Assistance Center Now Open in Santa Barbara
News Release: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS MAY REGISTER FOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE
Fact Sheet: Understanding Individual Assistance and Public Assistance
Flyer: Register for Disaster Assistance
Flyer: Resources for People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
Video:
Local Recovery and Assistance Center
Location: Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara, 1 N Calle Cesar Chavez, Santa Barbara, 93103
Dates: January 17 to February 3, 2018
Hours: 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday. The center will be closed on Sunday.
The Local Recovery and Assistance Center is a centralized, single point location for essential resources and services to help community members recover and rebuild. Representatives from various local, state and federal agencies will provide counseling support, resource and housing assistance, information to aid in rebuilding, permitting, hazardous materials clean-up, loss of business or employment, basic health and human services, and other topics.
Resource Packet:
Ocean Water Safety - Updated February 2, 2018
OPEN
Jalama Beach
Gaviota State Beach
Refugio State Beach
Leadbetter Beach
Butterfly Beach
Sands Beach at Coal Oil Point
East Beach at Mission Creek
East Beach at Sycamore Canyon
El Capitan State Beach
Summerland Beach
Guadalupe Dunes
CLOSED
Carpinteria State Beach including Carpinteria City Beach
Goleta Beach
Hammonds Beach
BEACHES WITH WARNING SIGNS
Arroyo Burro Beach
Hope Ranch Beach
SEDIMENT TESTING AT SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BEACHES : Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District has a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to remove accumulated sediment from channels, roadways and debris basins. County Flood Control will be pushing that sediment into the surf zone at two beach locations, Goleta Beach and Carpinteria Beach at Ash Avenue.
PUBLIC HEALTH WARNS AGAINST CONSUMPTION OF RECREATIONALLY HARVESTED RAW SHELLFISH : The Santa Barbara County Public Health Dept. is issuing a warning to the public to avoid consuming recreational harvested raw shellfish caught in ocean waters where bacterial levels continue to be elevated.
County Video
Montecito Storm Recovery Update - Santa Barbara County Fire Public Information Officer Mike Eliason and County Public Works Deputy Director Tom Fayram discuss the status of repairing infrastructure that was damaged during the Montecito storm.
Montecito Storm Update - Storm Update, January 17, 2018.
Santa Barbara County January Storm Following the Thomas Fire - Montecito Storm Damage Assessment, January 14, 2018. Forester Len Nielson from CAL FIRE discusses storm damage assessment and what you can do to prepare for another storm.
Emergency Food Distribution Sites
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is distributing fresh produce and healthy groceries for those displaced from their homes or facing lost income or work due to the Montecito flood and the Thomas fire. No paperwork is required. A list of the food distribution sites, dates and times is available here
Press Releases
Road Closures
For latest traffic incidents/road closures, see the most current information from the CHP at http://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx
Also see the Public Works Road Closure Map for additional information.
Be aware of scams
- Be aware of scams during this local emergency!
- PRICE GOUGING: Under Penal Code section 396, it is illegal to charge a price for essential goods and services that is more than 10 percent higher than the price charged immediately before the emergency declaration. If you would like to report potential price gouging, please complete a District Attorney Consumer Complaint Form, at https://countyofsb.org/da/msm_county/documents/ConsumerComplaintForm_Fillable.pdf. Forms are available in English and in Spanish.
Aware & Prepare Alerts
It is critical that people in Santa Barbara County register to receive emergency alerts. Sign up at www.AwareAndPrepare.org. If we can't reach you, we can't alert you.
Interactive Maps
Damage Assessment
The County Office of Emergency Management developed an interactive web map for property owners to access damage assessment data for their homes and businesses. The map will be updated daily as the team completes their assessments.
Evacuation Orders and Warnings
The County Office of Emergency Services has developed a map which will allow the public to view areas with evacuation warnings and evacuation orders within Santa Barbara County. (NOTE: The map is continuously being updated based on the analysis by the USFS and CAL FIRE Teams assigned. Please review this map frequently to see the changes.)
How was the Flood and Debris Interactive Map created and what can it tell you?
Four areas are identified that could be impacted by the Thomas and Whittier fire burn areas:
- Properties within the burn area: These properties are at an increased risk from mudslides and rocks from the slopes above the property or by the debris, mud, rocks and water that is carried down the watercourses from high up on the mountain.
- Properties within a 1/4 mile of the perimeter of the burn area: These properties are at an increased risk from mudslides from the slopes above the property or by the debris, mud, rocks and water that is carried down the watercourses from high up on the mountain.
- Properties near a watercourse such as a creek: These properties are at an increased risk from debris flows that could cause water to spill over the banks of the watercourse. A creek that maybe dry all year can become a raging force of debris, rocks, mud and water.
- Properties in the lowlands and flood zones: These properties are at an increased risk from flooding and mud flows that could occur from large amounts of runoff from the mountains that are bare of vegetation.
During a storm roads maybe blocked by water or rocks, therefore it may be better to either go to high ground at a neighbor's house or shelter in place. This depends on the specific location of the property you are at. You need to know the threats that surround you!
Stay Connected
For ongoing updates:
Radio Ready
See how you can get up to date information on the radio through Radio Ready, a system that connects the release of timely information from the OES to the radio-listening public.
http://awareandprepare.org/media
Additional Resources
The following websites may offer additional information relating to the Thomas Fire Area Flood
- SoCalGas Service Restoration
- "Inside Edison" newsletter with daily information about Thomas Fire
- Southern California Edison map of current Power Outages
- Be Prepared for a Power Outage
- Public Health website
-
Road Closures
