Newhall digs out of mud, debris after heavy rain

NEWHALL, SANTA CLARITA (KABC) -- Cleanup is underway in the Newhall area, where heavy rain sent mud and debris flowing down the hillsides, into streets and up against mobile homes.

Crews worked through the morning to clear the thick mud piled high everywhere. By mid-morning, much of the heavy lifting was finished.

When the heavy rains hit on Wednesday, mud and other debris came rushing down canyon walls - much of it is from the Calgrove burn area that scorched hundreds of acres last year.

"It was raining hard, and stuff started coming down the mountain," said Mike Love, a Newhall resident. "There was a ton of it. It filled up the whole street."

Love's home got it the worst. A thick layer of mud covers his yard, but the trailer appears to be OK.

Area resident Brandon Hanson is also relieved. He was also there when the water started rising.

"Oh yeah, it hit the house. I mean, we're standing on about a foot of mud right now," Hanson said.

It wasn't just mud and water coming down the hillsides, but rocks and boulders too - all heading right toward Hanson's house.

"Precautions weren't taken, it's the bottom line. It was not done. So, here we are, and now I'm stuck with this," he said.

People in 10 mobile homes in the 12500 block of The Old Road who complied with voluntary evacuations Wednesday were expected to return Thursday. Fire officials said they expect the electricity and gas to be turned back on for residents sometime in the afternoon.

There are now plans to line streets with concrete barriers, which should channel the mud and debris away from homes.

In the meantime, residents will clean up and have to keep an eye on the skies for the next time it rains.

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