Montecito braced for fire, but mud was a more stealthy, deadly threat

Montecito braced for fire, but mud was a more stealthy, deadly threat

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When the Thomas fire swept down from the Los Padres National Forest and took aim at this coastal town in December, the looming disaster was impossible to miss. Powerful winds picked up, smoke shielded the sun and brought an eerie darkness to the landscape, and towers of flames could be seen in the distance. Thousands of residents fled as what would become the largest fire on record in California pushed to the Pacific Ocean. More than two dozen homes were lost or damaged in the area, but no one died in the town. The mudslides that followed the fire this week were a much more stealthy and ultimately lethal threat. Though residents had been warned about heavy rain and potential debris flows, many took the threat far less seriously than…
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Officials Estimate It Will Be Another 10 Days Before Montecito Evacuees Can Go Home

Officials Estimate It Will Be Another 10 Days Before Montecito Evacuees Can Go Home

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Highway 101 reopened as human remains-detection dog teams make big push looking for last two missing victims California Highway Patrol officers staff a checkpoint at East Valley Road and Sycamore Canyon Road. County officials said Sunday that it may be another 10 days before residents are allowed back into Montecito. Click to view larger California Highway Patrol officers staff a checkpoint at East Valley Road and Sycamore Canyon Road. County officials said Sunday that it may be another 10 days before residents are allowed back into Montecito. (Urban Hikers / Noozhawk photo) By Giana Magnoli, Noozhawk Managing Editor | @magnoli | updated logo 10:18 p.m. | January 21, 2018 | 8:45 p.m. Share on email Share on print 25 It likely will be another 10 days before authorities start allowing…
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Portable Solar-Powered Generators Donated for First Responders

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By Samantha Silverman for Energy Equality for All | January 20, 2018 | 9:00 a.m. Energy Equality for All, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit, is supplying local emergency responders with portable solar-powered energy generators to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Montecito. “We are devastated by the damage and loss of life from the fires and mud-slides which hit our community. When disaster hits, we are all one community," said Mark Harris, president of Energy Equality For All. "Experts believe the increasing frequency and force of weather-related events globally is due in large part to climate change, caused by global warming. This is likely to be a continued trend in our futures, unless we address the issue straight-on,” he said. Energy Equality for All provides renewable energy generators and storage systems…
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