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W E DN E S DAY, J A N UA RY 11, 2 0 2 3
County deals with storm’s impact Properties damaged, but no injuries or fatalities reported; amount of water at Lake Cachuma doubles By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Monday’s fierce storm left property damage throughout Santa Barbara County, but no fatalities or injuries were reported. All evacuations and shelterin-place orders were lifted by 2 p.m. Tuesday. And throughout the county, schools are reopening today. State Route 154, which was impacted by rock slides, remained closed Tuesday in both directions. But by the end of Tuesday afternoon, Highway 101 was reopened in both directions in South County and between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. And all that rain doubled the amount of water at Lake Cachuma, a key reservoir. Officials said they were prepared for this storm. “We were well aware the storm was on the way due to the professional work done by the National Weather Service at Oxnard,” Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse said during a news conference Tuesday at the Santa Barbara County government campus by Calle Real. “We have gone from a public safety stance of search and rescue to a recovery and clean-up mode. We would encourage all of our residents to heed directions from our public safety officials.” Eric Boldt, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard, described the storm’s impacts as “widespread and damaging.” “There are all kinds of floodrelated issues including: small streams and tributaries and even main stem flooding from the Santa Ynez River. Mud and debris flow closed roads, and stranded people, resulting in numerous rescues,” Mr. Boldt told the NewsPress Tuesday. “However, there were no fatalities or injuries, and a lot of water helped to fill reservoirs.
“Lake Cachuma rose 32 feet in the last day and a half, starting at around 37% capacity and is now up to 73% percent capacity,” Mr. Boldt said. There was more rain than the National Weather Service predicted. “The original prediction was saying 4-8 inches in the high country, which was pushed to 12 inches. There was wave after wave of moisture and rain,” Mr. Boldt said. “In the end, we saw over 17 inches at San Marcos Pass,” he said. “One gauge in the western Ventura mountains hit over 18 inches. Most places exceed predictions, especially in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.” On Monday evening, President Joe Biden approved an amendment to California’s federal disaster declaration to include Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, according to Rep. Salud Carbajal’s office. Rep. Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, DCalifornia, wrote to President Biden, asking for the amendment. “I am grateful to President Biden, FEMA, state officials, and our local leaders and emergency managers for working quickly to ensure Central Coast first responders can get the resources they need to respond to the damage brought by this week’s storms,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I will continue to utilize every resource at my office’s disposal to help support those who have been working day and night to save lives and protect our communities as we survey the damage and brace for the rain and flooding still to come.” On Monday, FEMA issued a news release: “The president’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives; protect property, public health and
safety; and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe ... Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance under the public assistance
COURTESY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Approximately 400 people and 70 horses were isolated by mud and debris at Rancho Oso on Paradise Road. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department Construction Section responded Tuesday to clear the roadway. No injuries or other medical issues were reported, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck, the department’s public information officer.
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program, will be provided at 75% federal funding.” During Wednesday’s news conference with local officials, News-Press Managing Editor Dave Mason asked what the expansion of the federal
declaration means for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. “So there’s two processes associated with the federal declaration. We are waiting for that official notice in writing,”
said Kelly Hubbard, director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. “There’s a process associated with the government entities and in the county, in our collection of damage Please see STORM on A4
DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS
Kelly Hubbard, director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, discusses the storm during a news conference Tuesday. Ms. Hubbard said the county is waiting for an official notice in writing of the federal declaration of emergency for Santa Barbara County. At right are 1st District Supervisor Das Williams and 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps.
LOTTERY
i nsi de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
COURTESY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
After this week’s storm, Sisquoc River in North County was flowing Tuesday.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-6-11-31-46 Mega: 22
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 4-7-4-9
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-13-14-15-18 Mega: 9
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 7-9-16-27-32
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-11-03 Time: 1:42.40
Monday’s POWERBALL: 18-43-48-60-69 Meganumber: 14
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 8-6-7 / Midday 5-3-5