Heavy Rains Promt Local Evacuations

UPDATE DECEMBER 21, 2010:    The areas affected by the station fires of 2009 have been a major concern for emergency crews. The steady rain has prompted the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department to issue evacuations of 147 residences in La Canada Flintridge and 85 residences in La Crescenta.  Residents are asked to comply with evacuation by 9pm this evening.  The Red Cross has established an evacuation shelter at Holy Redeemer Church located at 2411 Montrose Ave in Montrose.  The National Guard Amories have established winter shelters, one of them being 220 E. Colorado St  in Glendale.  The Red Cross recommends that as residents prepare to evacuate, they should bring important papers, medications and food for themselves and their pets.

DECEMBER 20, 2010:  Agencies throughout Los Angeles County have joined forces to monitor the storm.  CARE, or Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort, includes the work of the LA County Sheriff's Department, Public Works, and the Fire Department among other agences.  You can visit www.dpwcare.org to stay up to date on road closures and evacuations as well as other work happening in the County.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has closed public access to all county roads within the station fire burn area which includes the Angeles Crest Highway, Big Tujunga and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon roads.  State officials had opened the Angeles Crest Highway 2 for the first time since the station fire ravaged the area.  Unfortunately, they had to shut it down again until this storm passes.  County firefighters say they're looking for mud and debris in the storm drains which show the first signs of a potential mudslide.  A Batallion Chief says the burnt soil left from the fires repels the water rather than absorbing it opening the door for the possibility of mudslides and flooding.  Emergency crews advise residents to do their part by watching the storm updates and weather alerts to keep them informed on road closures and evacuation warning and monitoring the drainage in front of their homes for mud and debris.