Sierra Madre declares debris-flow emergency after mid‑February storm; city outlines response, evacuation steps

Sierra Madre City Council on Feb. 13 adopted a declaration of local emergency tied to the mid‑February storm and mudflows that followed the Eaton Fire, after staff described pre‑storm protective measures, evacuation outreach and ongoing debris removal.

City Public Works Director Yanez told the council that crews and regional partners began protective preparations while the Eaton Fire was still active, cleared county debris basins and removed roughly 2,500 truckloads of material from the Sierra Madre Dam debris basin before the large rainfall. Staff said crews installed more than 500 feet of k‑rail in high‑risk locations, distributed thousands of sandbags to residents and prioritized clearing storm drains in burn zones to reduce blockage risk.

The council was given a run‑through of the county’s debris‑flow forecasting maps and of the city’s online resource page consolidating mudflow information, evacuation guidance, and links to Genesis, Nixle and county phase maps. Senior analyst James Carlson and management analyst Eric Lovick directed residents to the city’s website for the “one‑stop” mudflow page with time‑stamped updates and links to county maps and cameras.

Police Chief Barrientos described evacuation operations. The city and region issued an evacuation warning the day before the main storm; a mandatory evacuation was issued that evening to take effect the following morning. Chief Barrientos said area d and the county Office of Emergency Management were pre‑positioned and that the city’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and staff contacted more than 620 potentially impacted residents. Residents who declined to evacuate were asked to sign liability waivers; officers said some of those who declined later requested rescue or assistance after being trapped or buried by mud.

Council members and residents raised issues about neighborhood flows and bridge overtopping. Staff and presenters said the county and state modeling produce phase 1–3 maps; Sierra Madre adjusted its Genesis zones and compared the county maps to its on‑the‑ground placements of sandbags and k‑rail. Staff said some cross‑parcel flows and localized flooding reached parts of Grandview, Camilo and Acacia, and that topographic details meant some flows exceeded earlier expectations in specific locations.

Several residents and property owners spoke during public comment about damage to backyards and homes on Acacia, Grandview and Camilo and about insurance denials for mud damage. A resident identified Senate Bill 917 (2018) as a statute they believe could apply to fire‑caused mud damage and said an insurer had denied their claim; council members pointed to an item later in the agenda to declare a related emergency, which could be used by residents in claims processes.

The council approved two emergency‑related items at the city manager’s recommendation: a continuation of the Eaton Fire local emergency (original declaration) and a separate declaration of emergency tied specifically to the mid‑February debris‑flow event, a step requested by Los Angeles County OEM and Cal OES for recovery and cost‑tracking purposes. Council directed staff to continue coordination with county, state and federal partners, and staff said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will perform nondisposal debris removal in a later phase.

Staff emphasized evacuation compliance, noting that vehicles left in roadways or people attempting to access flooded intersections can create new flow obstructions and increase damage. Council members asked staff to press county engineers on dam capacity and bridge clearance, and the public works director said he would contact county dam engineers to explore short‑term options and longer‑term measures.

The council also asked for follow‑up items: additional public outreach on Nixle/Genesis sign‑up and a county contact for the community, a future briefing from the state insurance commissioner’s office (Mayor Pro Tem Christine Lowe requested an agendized presentation) and continued updates on debris‑basin clearing and mapping.

Ending: Staff asked residents to register for Nixle and Genesis and to treat evacuation warnings seriously. The council thanked public works crews, police, fire, CERT and neighboring cities for rapid response and coordination during the event.