Evacuation orders to be lifted for parts of Montecito on Tuesday, sheriff's department says

By ABC7.com staff
Monday, January 22, 2018
Evacuation orders and warnings are scheduled to be lifted for parts of Montecito on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, two weeks after the community was devastated by mudslides that killed at least 21 people.
MONTECITO, Calif. (KABC) -- Evacuation orders and warnings are scheduled to be lifted for parts of Montecito on Tuesday afternoon, two weeks after the community was devastated by mudslides that killed at least 21 people.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, mandatory evacuation orders will be rescinded in the following areas at noon:

-Ayala Lane
-Ashley Road, north of Sycamore Canyon Road to the 700 block of Ashley Road
-East of Cold Springs Road

At the same time, voluntary evacuation orders will be lifted for:

-North of the 101 Freeway
-West of Olive Mill Road/Mesa Road/Oak Road
-South of Hot Springs Road/Sycamore Canyon Road
-East of Eucalyptus Hill Road/El Rancho Road/Camino Viejo Road/Summit Road/Hot Springs Road

The area east of the locations described above will remain under a mandatory evacuation order, according to a county news release.

"The boil water notice for the area is still in effect," the Monday statement said, adding that the restoration of certain utilities was ongoing. "Residents returning to the area are asked to drive cautiously due to the ongoing presence of heavy truck traffic."

VIDEO: River of mud rushes down Montecito street as family scrambles for safety
Video shows mudslide rushing down Montecito street

County officials held a community meeting in nearby Santa Barbara to update residents on the progress of search-and-recovery and cleanup efforts.

Two people remain missing in the aftermath of the catastrophe: a 2-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy.

The 101 Freeway reopened Sunday following a two-week shutdown due to mud and debris. Drivers may face late-night closures on the 101 due to still-needed roadwork.

The repopulation of some neighborhoods has been slowed due to the destruction of some bridges that were felled by the mudslides.
In this Jan. 15, 2018 image, the 101 Fwy is seen under water and mud as clean-up crews work to clear roads in Montecito. (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)AP
"January Storms- 7 am morning briefing for the FF’s, SAR, Law and Military Personnel underway at the Incident Command Post at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara."none
"The sun sets behind US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass which remains flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit’s Fire Copter 308 flies through a rainbow Tuesday afternoon while on a rescue mission in Montecito."none
"A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Rescue Vehicle is staged while trying to get past vehicles on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"SB Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel along with Santa Barbara County Firefighters drive on Olive Mill Road in Montecito."none
"A rainbow forms above Montecito while law enforcement and the curious survey the destruction on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"A vehicle was wrapped and tangled around a tree by the force of deadly flood waters on Hot Springs Road in Montecito."none
"Detail of a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament that has been covered in runoff mud and debris. The vehicle was moved by flood waters and destroyed."none
"A semi-tractor trailer sits stuck in mud on US Highway 101 northbound just south of the San Ysidro Road offramp in Montecito."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damage to guest cottages at the storied San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito due to deadly mudflow from overnight heavy rain."none
"Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow and onto the US 101 Freeway from nearby residential area in Montecito."none
"Damaged vehicles that were pushed by mudflow and onto the US 101 Freeway from nearby residential area in Montecito."none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Heavy rainfall in areas affected by the Thomas Fire have caused flooding and mudflows in Montecito.none
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
Ventura County's air rescue squad captured dramatic images of flooding in Montecito.KABC
"Damaged vehicles carried by mud flow and debris at the exit of the parking garage to The Montecito Inn at the corner of Olive Mill and Coast Village Road."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad through Montecito is blocked with mudflow and debris due to heavy rains."none
"The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad through Montecito is blocked with mudflow and debris due to heavy rains."none
"The US 101 Freeway at the Olive Mill Road overpass flooded with runoff water from Montecito Creek."none
"Firefighters successfully rescued a 14 yr old girl (right) after she was trapped for hours inside a destroyed home in Montecito."none
"Santa Barbara County Fire Search Dog Reilly looks for victims in damaged and destroyed homes in Montecito following deadly runoff of mud and debris from heavy rain overnight."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"Scene from the 300 block of Hot Springs Road in Montecito following debris and mud flow due to heavy rain."none
"The national guard on Coast Village Road. Grateful for our first responders"none
"FF’s tend to a woman on Hot Springs Road while waiting for an ambulance. The woman was pulled by FF’s from a debris pile in Montecito caused by heavy rain runoff."none


"It is very stressful being out of your home, now going on two weeks," said Montecito resident Sam Allevato, who attended the meeting. "For many people, they don't even have a home to come back to. Or they're burying their family, relatives. It's really a very tragic event."

The sheriff's department has established a unit assigned to escort residents back into their neighborhoods. Next week, a community advisory group will be formed to answer homeowners' questions about what to do with mud on their property, among other issues.

VIDEO: Aerial footage of Montecito shows before-and-after view of devastated homes
Before-and-after look at destruction from mudslides in Montecito
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