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Los Angeles County urges fire‑scarred communities to brace for heavy rain; some roads, evacuations ordered
Summary
County officials warned of heavy rain over burn areas, urged residents to heed evacuation directions and announced closures including Pacific Coast Highway and local mountain roads.
Los Angeles County officials on Monday warned residents in fire‑impacted neighborhoods to prepare for heavy rain, possible debris flows and landslides and to follow evacuation directions where issued.
The warning came as county leaders described a multi‑agency response to an incoming storm expected to be heaviest overnight and into Thursday morning. "Rain is forecasted for the next few days, which means our fire impacted communities need to be on alert. The risk of mud flow and landslides is real. I'm asking Los Angeles County residents to be vigilant," the Los Angeles County Supervisor said.
County public works and emergency management staff said the storm brings a risk of debris and unsafe driving conditions in burn areas. "We expect traffic issues, we expect unsafe conditions for driving, and therefore we are shutting down PCH, beginning at noon today, and local mountain roads will also be closed, by 6PM, this evening," Mark Pastrella, director of Los Angeles County Public Works, said. Officials said details on road closures, sandbag pickup locations and preparedness tips are posted at ready.LAcounty.gov/rain and that a county dispatch line is available for updates.
Public works described how debris basins and local channels factor into flood risk. "All of our debris basins have capacity for this upcoming storm. We don't expect any debris basin to somehow lose its debris out into the streets," Pastrella said, noting that some flows will come from slopes without basins or from street systems. He also said the county has coordinated maps and notifications with affected cities, including Sierra Madre.
Officials reiterated that evacuation directions and warnings have been issued for the most vulnerable locations. "Those of you who are being given a warning or given evacuation direction, we ask that you comply with those directions, because we do expect that we're gonna have some debris flow in this event," Pastrella said.
The county also reminded residents that weekly community recovery meetings will continue on Mondays at 4 p.m., and that recovery.LAcounty.gov will be updated with resources. The Supervisor said this would be the final weekly press conference but that community briefings and online updates will continue.
Officials encouraged anyone needing help during the storm to use posted resources and the dispatch number provided by county staff.
