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SierraMudre.Info - Your Source for Info About Sierra Madre Mud & Debris Flow - a division of SierraMadreNews.Net |
National Weather Service Forecast for Sierra Madre
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For OFFICIAL news and information, visit the City's emergency blog: http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com |
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effective 7pm,
2/6/10 (subject to change without notice)Recent City and County Alerts at a Glance - Click on link or scroll further down the page for details
Monday, 2/8/10, 7:06pm - LACDPW Calls for Phase 1 Watch Tomorrow at Noon
Saturday, 2/6/10, 7pm - City Downgrades to Green Flag Alert
Saturday, 2/6/10, 1:53pm - scroll down to the personal observations for the latest update
Saturday, 2/6/10, 1:30pm - City Council to Meet in Emergency Session to Proclaim a State of Emergency
Saturday, 2/6/10, 11:05am - City Issues Red Flag Alert
Saturday, 2/6/10, 10:50am - Just got off the phone with Elisa Weaver, the City is going to Red Flag, mandatory evacuation. They will be issuing a press release in about 20 minutes, I’ll forward it when I get it.
Saturday, 2/6/10, 10:30am - LACDPW Upgrades Sierra Madre to Phase 2 Watch
Saturday, 2/6/10, 8:45 - Just spoke to James Carlson at the City. Woodland at the bridge is blocked. Skyland is blocked. At Lotus Lane there is some blockage. Sierra Madre EOC will be opening shortly. Crews have begun or will begin to clear the streets as soon as it is safe and they can do it effectively with their machinery. Updates to Channel 3, the emergency blog and an e-blast will take place as soon as staff can get it done.
Saturday, 2/6/10, 7:37am (posted 8:25am) - LACDPW Upgrades Sierra Madre to Phase I Watch
Saturday, 2/6/10, 5:05am
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Mudflow on Skyland,
City Upgrades to Yellow Flag Alert: Just spoke with SMPD Watch
Commander Kamchamnan who informed me that within the last hour there was mud
flow at 801 Skyland and the resident at that address was voluntarily
evacuated. Skyland at that location is now closed. Sgt. Kamchamnan
also informed me that the City has upgraded to Yellow Flag alert status, and we
will be receiving notices from the City to that effect shortly.
Thursday, 2/4/10, 5pm (posted 9:25pm) - City Issues Green Flag Alert
Personal Observations
Saturday, 2/6/10, 1:50pm - Drove around and checked a lot of spots out. Stonehouse still looks good. Auburn debris basin is at about 5% capacity, I'm told. One Carter looks good. Went up to lower canyon, and there were crews and residents working in the road just above the bridge by Mary's Market. I've got some pics I'll be uploading. I'm told that the mud came down from Yucca Trail. When I walked by Yucca, it was pretty clean, I was surprised to hear that's where the mud came from, but it was SMPD that told me that. I talked to Elisa Weaver, the City's Public Information Officer, and she told me that the debris basin at the top of Yucca Trail is pretty much at capacity, and it will take eight to nine hours till they can clean it out. So cross your fingers. I asked what happens if it hits capacity and overflows? She said we'll probably lose some structures, so people really need to heed the City's call for evacuations. As to the evacuation, there are about 270 homes currently under mandatory evacuation, with an emergency center set up at the Rec. Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Surprisingly, there's nobody there except staff. According to Elisa, there's been no major structural damage, though obviously some homes and garages have gotten some water and/or mud inside. The Fire Dept. made a rescue this morning, freeing somebody that couldn't get out of their house. No injuries, so far, though. National Weather Service says we have 100% chance of rain this afternoon (hasn't been raining for a while), and 80% chance of showers tonight. Crews are working up at Skyland, which had some pretty severe mud flow (the most I've seen in the couple years I've been covering things, but that's only 8 or 10 storms. I've got some pictures I'll be posting in a few minutes.
PEOPLE - Bailey Canyon and the Mt. Wilson Trail ARE CLOSED!! I went by Mt. Wilson Trail and somebody had torn down the caution tape. One of the Trail Race winners from an earlier year was coming down off the trail, and while I was there, a woman with her dog started up the trail. Use your head...If the rain starts, you're in danger if you are on those trails. And even if it's not raining...it could be that there's something blocking a bunch of mud or water above you, that suddenly shifts and no longer is able to hold it back. And then you're in its path. I understand that happened locally about ten years ago and two people were killed. STAY OFF THE TRAILS!!
Here's the pics (click to enlarge):
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One Carter, top of Baldwin, 9:20am |
One Carter, East end. both these pictures were taken before the deluge |
Woodland Lane, just above Mary's Market |
Looking up the wash by Mary's Market |
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Some of the mud that Public Works had cleared away |
This is "upstream" a ways from Mary's |
The dam |
This is looking up Yucca Trail toward the debris basin. Hard to believe this is the source of the mud, it looks so clear. Wondering if SMPD might have got some bad info... |
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Looking up Skyland from Fern and Skyland |
801 Skyland |
Ditto |
And again... |
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One more time |
Looking down Skyland from 801, toward Fern |
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Saturday, 2/6/10, 8:30am - Just saw a post on Facebook that there are sirens in the canyon, following a downpour of 1/2" rain in ten minutes. Unfortunately, I have a Chamber-related meeting at 9:15 that I'm getting ready for, which prevents me from checking it out. Following the meeting, I'll head up and see what I can see, and post a report here.
Saturday, 2/6/10, 6:30 - Mud Update I just took a look around, and with the exception of the mud in the road at Skyland, most everything seems to be clear. There’s some mud in the road at Stonehouse above Grand View, but not enough to close anything down or cause any damage (yet). Stonehouse is barricaded on the south side of Grand View. There’s a little dirt in the road by the bridge above Mary’s Market, but otherwise everything in that area seems clear, Alta Vista, Yucca Trail, etc. Went to the end of the road, no issues. One Carter is clear at both driveways.
I think I may have misreported something in my 5:05am update, when I said that the resident at 801 Skyland was evacuated. I think what was said was that they were put on voluntary evacuation, not that they were evacuated (it was 5am and I had just woke up). Now that I’ve had a cup of coffee and gone by and seen all the upstairs lights on at 6am, I’m thinking, I’ve seen lots more mud there and they didn’t evacuate, so I think I just misheard the watch commander.
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Stonehouse above Grand View, 6:01am |
1 Carter above Baldwin, 6:06am |
East end of 1 Carter, 6:07am |
801 Skyland, 6:20am |
2/5/10, 10:45pm - Just went and checked on Skyland, and it's clear as a bell. Since it's usually the first place to have issues and there weren't any issues, I decided not to bother checking other places. However, 1 Carter was kind of on the way home, so I drove by there, and the streets are clear there, as well.
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City and County Alerts/Releases
Monday, 2/8/10, 7:06pm, LACDPW Forecasts Phase 1 Watch
LACDPW has issued a Phase I Watch for Sierra Madre, from noon on tomorrow, Tuesday, 2/9/10. Click here to view the forecast.
Saturday, 2/6/10, 7pm - City Downgrades to Green Flag Alert
The City of Sierra Madre has moved to a Green Flag Alert for mudslides and debris flows in the hillside communities.
Mandatory Evacuation orders have been lifted for all areas in the City of Sierra Madre.
City officials are closely watching local rain forecasts. The National Weather Service has posted an 80% chance of rain for this evening (Saturday, 1/6/2010).
A Green Flag Alert is issued when there is an 80% chance or more of precipitation. Affected residents should get ready for potential evacuation and keep close watch on weather forecasts.
There still the possibility of hazards as streets may become flooded or blocked by debris with the intermittent storm cells that may pass over the area this evening. Parking restrictions have been lifted for the Upper and Lower Canyon.
Sandbags are available at the City Yards. Residents must fill and transport their own bags.
Bailey Canyon Park, Mt. Wilson Trail, and Chantry Road will remain closed until further notice.
For more information about mudslide and debris flow preparations, please visit
www.cityofsierramadre.com and click "Emergency Preparedness Links" and "Ready for 7" on the home page. Updates will also be issued on SMTV3 (Time Warner-channel 3) and the City’s Emergency Blog (http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com/).
Saturday, 2/6/10, 11:05am - Red Flag Mud Alert Issued
The City of Sierra Madre issued a Red Flag Mud Alert for Sierra Madre residences in potential mud flow areas. The Los Angels County Public Works Department issued a Phase 2 Mud Alert. A Phase 2 Alert indicates moderate debris and mudflows at widespread locations. Phase 3 – the potential exists for significant debris and mudflows to be widespread. Mandatory evacuations are in place.
The following locations are now under a Mandatory Evacuation Order and the streets are closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic:
- All streets above Churchill and Canyon Crest
- All streets above Brookside and Sturtevant
- All streets above Lotus Lane at Camillo
- The private sections of Auburn Avenue above Elm Street.
Additional Important Information:
- An evacuations center has been set up at the Community Recreation Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.
- A debris deflection structure will be erected at the northern Brookside Lane & Woodland Drive intersection by 1:00 PM.
- Sand and sandbags are available 24 hours a day at the City Maintenance Facility. The address is 621 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. The sand and sandbags are located north of the Sierra Vista Park tennis courts, and next to the Sierra Madre Rose Float building. Residents must fill their own bags and are advised to bring a shovel.
- Bailey Canyon Park, Mt. Wilson Trail, and Chantry Road are all closed until further notice.
The City of Sierra Madre is appreciative of the diligent preparations and friendly cooperation that its residents have demonstrated through all of our recent emergencies.
For updates and future emergency information, please be sure to monitor the City’s Communication tools:
City Website (www.cityofsierramadre.com)
SMTV3, (channel 3 on Time Warner Cable)
Sierra Madre Emergency Blog (www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com.)
Email Alerts “eBlasts” - To register for email alerts please visit www.cityofsierramadre.com, click on AccessSierraMadre, and then click CommunicationLink to register your email address.
Additional information on how to protect your home can be found on the City’s website, www.cityofsierramadre.com. Mud incident updates can be found at www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com.
2/6/10, 10:30am, LACDPW Upgrades Sierra Madre to Phase 2 watch
LACDPW has upgraded Sierra Madre to a Phase 2 watch. Phase 2 watch: Moderate debris and mudflows possible at more widespread locations. Some streets may be completely blocked by debris. Depending on location and terrain, some structures may be endangered by debris and mudflows. Click here to view the forecast from LACDPW.
2/6/10, 7:37am (posted 8:25am) - LACDPW Upgrades Sierra Madre to Phase I Watch
LACDPW has upgraded Sierra Madre to a Phase I watch, click here to view the forecast.
2/4/10, 5pm (posted 9:25pm) City Issues Green Flag Alert
The City of Sierra Madre has issued a Green Flag Alert for mudslides and debris flows in the hillside communities.
City officials are closely watching local rain forecasts. The National Weather Service has posted an 80% chance of rain for tomorrow (Friday, 1/5/2010).
A Green Flag Alert is issued when there is an 80% chance or more of precipitation. Affected residents should get ready for potential evacuation and keep close watch on weather forecasts.
For more information about mudslide and debris flow preparations, please visit
www.cityofsierramadre.com and click “Emergency Preparedness Links” and “Ready for 7” on the home page. Updates will also be issued on SMTV3 (Time Warner-channel 3) and the City’s Emergency Blog (http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com/).** Regarding both the SierraMudre.Info website and its alert notice e-mail list - While we will do our best to post alerts and send e-mail notices in a timely manner, there are many reasons why we may not be able to send e-mail alerts and/or update the website when notices are received. SierraMudre.Info and SierraMadreNews.net are basically one-person operations. If I am out patrolling the area, or working, or out of town, or just out of the office, or away from my computer for any reason, I may not be aware that an alert has come in. SierraMadreNews.net and SierraMudre.info offer this website and the e-mail alert program as a public service, and accept no responsibility for the passage of time between alerts arriving in our office and the posting on our site or the sending of an alert by our program. By signing up for this e-mail alert program, you are acknowledging that you recognize that alerts may not be sent in a timely manner, and agree to hold harmless and indemnify SierraMadreNews.net, SierraMudre.info, The Coburn Group and Bill Coburn in the event of any damage or harm caused by storms, mudflow and debris. E-mail notices will be sent when we post notices that we have received alerts regarding potential mudflow or change in storm alert status from any government agency, i.e., the City of Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works, etc. For OFFICIAL news and information, visit the City's emergency blog: http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com SIGN UP FOR THE SIERRAMUDRE.INFO E-MAIL ALERT NOTICE PROGRAM