Thursday, Jan

County now in recovery; no deaths, major injuries reported

BY EVELYN SPENCE

The early January storms took a toll across Santa Barbara County, and Carpinteria – facing stay in place orders, evacuations and flooding – came out the other end with some flooding, but little overall damage, the city said.

Carpinteria Public Information Officer Olivia Uribe-Mutal said Carpinteria received over four inches of rain between Monday, Jan. 9 and Tuesday, Jan. 10, bringing the total rain received this year to 12.49 inches. “Significantly more rain has fallen in our nearby foothills and mountains, which of course contribute significantly to creek flows,” Uribe-Mutal said.

In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said some restricted areas remain throughout the county to allow the flood waters to drain, and to allow crews to clear some debris.

“The storm that we just experienced was a significant and powerful weather event, one in a series of storms that have and will continue to hit Santa Barbara County. It looks like we will have a break in the weather until this weekend, when another of these atmospheric river storms is forecasted to come into our area,” Brown said Tuesday.

Brown called Monday’s storm “heavier than anticipated,” and said the South County area was particularly impacted.

“(This was) unprecedented and historic rainfall,” he said. “We know that evacuations are inconvenient hardships in many ways. We do not make the decision to evacuate lightly. Rather, we want to ensure the safety of our community members during this difficult and challenging, and (…) rapidly changing,

disastrous events.” The county lifted all evacuation orders Tuesday afternoon and by Tuesday evening, both lanes of the Highway 101 – closed due to intense “The storm that we flooding – were open, once more connecting just experienced the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. was a significant The Carpinteria Veterans Hall housed and powerful 28 evacuees Monday night; it is no longer weather event, operating as an emerone in a series of gency shelter. Residents who still need storms that have emergency shelter should call the Counand will continue to ty Office of Emergency Management at (833) hit Santa Barbara 688-5551. State beach camp-

County.” grounds between Rincon and Gaviota –Sheriff Bill Brown were closed and evacuated Monday, and the Carpinteria State Beach Park Campground remains closed due to flooding and debris cleanup. Uribe-Mutal warned residents to stay off Carpinteria’s winter berm due to severe erosion. As of Tuesday evening, city officials are working to rebuild the berm. She added that the Carpinteria Creek Bike Path is full of debris and will remain closed. While Carpinteria Unified School District schools closed campuses on Tuesday, campuses and classes across the county reopened Wednesday. Carpinteria’s pool is closed, but the Carpinteria Community Library remains open. Santa Barbara Airport reopened Tuesday afternoon; it had closed Monday due to flooding. As of Wednesday, bus schedules in the area are also operating on modified Sunday schedules. The Pacific Surfliner trains announced late Tuesday that tracks north of Goleta will be closed for 10 to 16 days, starting Jan. 12, to allow crews to repair the area. Limited service will still be available between Los Angeles and Goleta during this time.

KARLSSON

All of Carpinteria’s waterways were hit with high levels of rain, including Franklin Creek.