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Mudslide Buries Small California Town
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, January 11, 2005 — At least three people were killed and more than a dozen are missing after a massive mudslide struck the California coastal town of La Conchita, located about 75 miles north of Los Angeles, on Monday night. At least ten others suffered major to critical injuries.
Ongoing rescue efforts continue Tuesday despite the rain. Rescue workers are looking for survivors in at least 15 homes that were buried under 30 feet of mud. The mudslide comes after the area was pounded by heavy rains for weeks--the National Weather Service said that Los Angeles had recorded its wettest 15 consecutive days on record, with a total of 17 inches of rain.
The mudslide started after officials instituted a voluntary evacuation of the town because of smaller mudslides forcing dirt and debris onto Highway 101, closing the road and cutting off the only route between Santa Barbara and Ventura.
A huge mudslide buried nearly half the homes in the coastal Hamlet of La Conchita, Ca. on Monday night. Photo courtesy KABC-TV. | |
Ventura County fire chief investigator Keith Mashburn said three men were pulled out of the rubble Monday night before rescuers stopped their efforts because conditions were too dangerous to continue.
The Ventura County Chapter of the Red Cross opened eight shelters in the area overnight, and is also taking calls from those looking for information on welfare of family and friends in the area.
In Santa Barbara, about 20 minutes north of La Conchita, officials have sporadically called for voluntary evacuations of some neighborhoods in the hills, as small mudslides and flooded streets continue to endanger residents.
“It paralyzes everyone, because we aren’t used to this at all,” said Santa Barbara resident Heather Cochran. “The streets aren’t made to handle this much rain, so it’s hard to get anything done.”
About 20 miles from La Conchita, about 350 people in the town of Piru sheltered overnight at a school after the entire town of 2,000 residents was advised to evacuate. In Corona, Ca., the Prado dam is expected to run over sometime today, forcing the evacuation of a 400 unit mobile home park located in the flood plain.
In 1995 nearly 600,000 tons of earth fell onto the town during another powerful storm. Ventura County eventually put up a retaining wall to protect hillside residents, but that wall collapsed immediately under Monday's slide, but officials said it had only been intended to stop debris but not another mudslide.
Flooding Continues in Central U.S.
Indiana and Ohio continue to deal with heavy rains. In Ohio, 68 of the 88 American Red Cross chapters are actively working to serve the community, according to Rick Alatorre, Red Cross public affairs officer.
“We are still ramping up our relief operations,” said Alatorre. “We have about 50 Disaster Services Human Resources workers in the area, and more will probably be here very soon.”
Forecasters are still calling for rain in the coming days, and frigid temperatures well below freezing will move into the region later in the week, turning the flooded water into ice, making conditions even more dangerous.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of this and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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