A major oncoming storm is expected to strike Southern California on Thursday, prompting authorities to issue evacuation alerts in sections of Los Angeles County, raising concerns about deadly flooding and debris flows in places burned by wildfires last month.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the evacuation orders and warnings are being issued due to a “high mudslide and debris flow risk” and will be in force from 7 a.m. local time on Thursday to 2 p.m. on Friday.
The evacuation warnings apply to regions that have recently been burnt by the Palisades, Hurst, and Sunset wildfires and are “especially susceptible to heavy rain,” according to the fire department’s notification.
Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department will visit homes in the alert zone that are at high risk “to issue specific evacuation orders.”
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District stated that all campuses will be closed on Thursday and perhaps Friday due to road closures and weather concerns.
California’s Office of Emergency Services announced earlier this week that “emergency protection materials” have been installed. These materials include straw wattles, compost silt socks, and silt fences, aimed at restricting the flow of hazardous materials from the Eaton and Palisades Fires.
The agency is also coordinating the installation of “K-rails to divert debris flow” into the creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water around Los Angeles.
