Wednesday, January 10, 2018

17 dead after flooding and mudsildes in California







17 dead after flooding and mudslides force thousands to flee in California

Jan 10, 2018, 7:08 PM ET

Flash flooding, debris flow and mudslides are punishing the communities hit hard by the Thomas and La Tuna fires, prompting "dozens and dozens" of rescues on the ground, a spokesperson from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department told ABC News.

PHOTO: Aerial view of Montecito, Calif., where mud and debris covers roads, homes and everything in its path following heavy rains, Jan. 9, 2018.  

Aerial view of Montecito, Calif., where mud and debris covers roads, homes and everything in it's path following heavy rains, Jan. 9, 2018. 

Many more are feared to be dead and buried beneath the mud. At least 24 people are missing, fire officials said.
Among those killed was Roy Rohter, the founder of the St. Augustine Academy in Ventura, according to the Catholic school's headmaster, Michael Van Hecke.
A mudslide swept Rohter and his wife, Theresa Rohter, out of their home in Montecito. Rohter's wife was rescued and hospitalized in stable condition, but Roy Rohter did not survive, Hecke told ABC News.
“Roy’s life has been in service to his good, loving and ever-forgiving God,” Hecke, a close friend of the Rohters, said in a statement. “Thousands have been blessed by the Rohters’ friendship and generosity.”

PHOTO: Mud and debris flow on the roadway due to heavy rain in Montecito. Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.  
Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP
Mud and debris flow on the roadway due to heavy rain in Montecito. Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.

Among the missing were sisters Sawyer Corey, 12, and Morgan Corey, 25, family members confirmed to ABC News. A third sister and the girls' mother are currently being treated in the ICU, the family said.
Montecito alone saw heavy rainfall in a short amount of time. About a third of the rain that has fallen in the last 24 hours in Montecito happened in just five minutes, according to the National Weather Service.
Because hundreds of thousands of acres were charred in the fires, the influx of water has nowhere to go.
Some homes in Montecito's affluent community have been ripped from their foundations as a result of the torrential conditions. About 100 homes have been destroyed and another 300 were damaged, county officials said.
The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management said Tuesday night the city of Montecito would be without potable water, electricity and sanitation "for an extended period of time."
Local fire officials reported rescuing several people in the area, including a mother and her daughter who were caked in mud. About two dozen people in Santa Barbara County are unaccounted for, officials said.

PHOTO: Mud fills the interior of a car destroyed in a rain-driven mudslide in a neighborhood under mandatory evacuation in Burbank, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.  
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
Mud fills the interior of a car destroyed in a rain-driven mudslide in a neighborhood under mandatory evacuation in Burbank, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018. 

The Claffey family in Carpinteria was forced to evacuate its home last month. After moving back in, family members were told to evacuate again because of the rain.
"If our house was flooded it would be devastating. Absolutely devastating," Maureen Claffey told ABC News.
Another family told ABC News that they witnessed neighbors floating away from their homes on mattresses and others holding on to trees for hours in a whirlpool of frigid mud. 


PHOTO: Firefighters search for trapped people in Montecito, Calif, Jan. 9, 2018, after mud and debris destroyed buildings following heavy rains.
 
Firefighters search for trapped people in Montecito, Calif, Jan. 9, 2018, after mud and debris destroyed buildings following heavy rains. 

The record rains started coming down on Monday, soaking northern cities like San Francisco and Sacramento. First responders put on skies to help the stranded since many roads and thruways have become raging rivers.
Thomas Fire victims file class action lawsuit against California utility
Deadly California wildfire could become largest in state's history
A 14-year-old girl was "trapped for hours" in mud-soaked rubble on Hot Springs Road and then pulled to safety in a triumphant moment.
Power in the area has also been cut, according to ABC News affiliate KEYT.
More rescues were expected and evacuations are rising, officials said. 


PHOTO: A car is stuck in the mud in La Tuna Canyon after heavy rain caused mudslides in California, Jan. 9, 2018.  
Los Angeles Police Department
A car is stuck in the mud in La Tuna Canyon after heavy rain caused mudslides in California, Jan. 9, 2018.


PHOTO: With a burned car in the foreground a worker finishes up erosion control efforts in the wildfire damaged Coffey Park neighborhood, Jan. 8, 2018, in Santa Rosa, Calif.  
Eric Risberg/AP
With a burned car in the foreground a worker finishes up erosion control efforts in the wildfire damaged Coffey Park neighborhood, Jan. 8, 2018, in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Rainfall totals on Tuesday afternoon ranged from 3 to 5 inches in the mountains in Ventura County and 2 to 3 inches in the mountains of Santa Barbara County, with higher totals within the areas burned by the Thomas fire in both counties.
Rainfall rates exceeding 1 inch per hour at times contributed to the damaging mudslides in portions of Southern California.

PHOTO: Thawing temperatures are expected to continue for the eastern U.S. into Thursday. 
ABC News
Thawing temperatures are expected to continue for the eastern U.S. into Thursday.


PHOTO: A developing winter storm is could bring scattered thunderstorms in the Southeast and possible wintry mix from the western Tennessee Valley into the eastern Great Lakes. 
ABC News
A developing winter storm is could bring scattered thunderstorms in the Southeast and possible wintry mix from the western Tennessee Valley into the eastern Great Lakes.

The weather has snarled drivers and first responders attempting to aid storm victims.
Routes in and out of Santa Barbara have been shut down from the south, and various roadways have been swallowed by the floods.
The only way into some of the washed-out homes is by air.
Ventura's Air Squad 6 dedicated helicopters to join Santa Barbara in the rescue effort.
Officials told ABC News they’ve been called to locations but they’re also stuck like thousands of motorists.
Excessive flooding and debris made some parts of Santa Barbara impassable.
Stranded drivers caught up in the rising water levels were being plucked from their vehicles to safer, dryer ground by emergency personnel relying on mostly aviation transportation.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department released photos of U.S. Route 101 that was flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek. Debris and mudflow blocked the railway for the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad through Montecito. 


PHOTO: US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek and blocked with mudflow and debris following heavy rains in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.  
Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. via EPA
US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek and blocked with mudflow and debris following heavy rains in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018. 


PHOTO: People walk through a crossing for the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad blocked with debris from mudslides following heavy rains in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018.  
MIKE ELIASON/SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE via EPA
People walk through a crossing for the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad blocked with debris from mudslides following heavy rains in Montecito, California, January 9, 2018. 

Highway 101 has been closed in both directions due to the mud, Santa Barbara County officials said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. It will be closed until midday Monday.
And in creeks and other waterways, the treacherous floodwaters were moving at around 15 mph.
An additional 1 to 2 feet of snow is expected in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

PHOTO: Mud fills the living room of Mary Longs home in Santo Tomas Lane in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.  
Mary Long via KEYT
Mud fills the living room of Mary Long's home in Santo Tomas Lane in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 9, 2018.

Storm moves through the plains

A winter storm system, which includes remnants from the California storm, is developing over the Central U.S. and will slam much of the region over the next 24 hours with snow, rain and strong winds.

PHOTO: The storm hitting California will move over the Rockies overnight/Wednesday morning and help develop a winter storm for the central US late Wednesday into Thursday.  
ABC News
The storm hitting California will move over the Rockies overnight/Wednesday morning and help develop a winter storm for the central US late Wednesday into Thursday. 

Snow will be falling from the central Rocky Mountains to the northern Plains, including cities like Aspen, Colorado and Rapid City, South Dakota. Snowfall will range from 1 to 4 inches across the northern Plains and upper Midwest over the next 24 hours.
Winter weather alerts are in place from New Mexico to Wisconsin and winter weather advisories are in effect from Garden City, Kansas to Minneapolis.

PHOTO: An ABC News weather map shows winter weather alerts from New Mexico up to Wisconsin related to this winter storm. 
ABC News
An ABC News weather map shows winter weather

Gusty winds as high as 45 to 55 mph are expected as far south as New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.
The winter storm will then move east into Friday, bringing mild weather and heavy rains for parts of the Northeast.

PHOTO: A developing winter storm is could bring scattered thunderstorms in the Southeast and possible wintry mix from the western Tennessee Valley into the eastern Great Lakes. 
ABC News
A developing winter storm is could bring scattered thunderstorms in the Southeast and possible wintry mix from the western Tennessee Valley into the eastern Great Lakes

January thaw in the East

Further east, a thawing will continue into Thursday.
It will be about 20 to 30 degrees warmer from Chicago to New York City than it was this past weekend as temperatures rise.
By Thursday, Chicago and Cleveland will be approaching 50 degrees for the first time since the middle of December.

PHOTO: Thawing temperatures are expected to continue for the eastern U.S. into Thursday. 
ABC News
Thawing temperatures are expected to continue for the eastern U.S. into Thursday.

New York City and Boston will be in the 50s by Friday. These temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees above normal.
Later on Thursday, a cold blast will then sweep across the central U.S. and will sweep the mild air further east into the Atlantic Ocean, causing temperatures to plummet 20 to 30 degrees in less than 24 hours.
However, the upcoming cold blast will pale in comparison last weekend's deep freeze.
ABC News' Fergal Gallagher, Julia Jacobo, Michael Kreisel, M.L. Nestel and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that, according to the Associated Press, Michael Van Hecke was killed. Van Hecke was not killed, nor did the Associated Press report that he was killed. Roy Rohter was killed, according to the AP, citing Van Hecke.

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