Residents of more than 500 homes affected by the recent storms are getting a break today, but Los Angeles County officials say there might not be enough time to finish cleaning out the overflowing debris basins before the next storm moves in Tuesday evening.
A spokeswoman for the county sheriff’s department said Monday authorities are considering a new round of evacuations before the new storm hits the already full debris basins.
The basins are supposed to protect homes in the San Gabriel Mountains in areas that were destroyed by last year’s wildfires. But two days of heavy rain brought extreme amounts of mud and debris causing the basins to overflow, damaging 43 homes in La Canada Flintridge. Some will remain permanently uninhabitable.
Barbara Marshall helps her neighbors cope with mudslide damages. (Video shot by Carlos Saucedo)
About 300 county dump trucks and 1,000 workers are working around the clock to free the heavily damaged homes and roads from mud and debris. At least 25 cars were washed away by Saturday’s storm.
The La Canada Neighborhood Paradise Valley was the hardest hit. County crews had to dig out fire hydrants and clear the sewage system.
See more below for more video and an interactive map.
Katherine Markgraf tries to save what is left of her mother’s house. (Video shot by Carlos Saucedo)
