Thursday rain brings down tree in Santa Barbara
A large tree couldn’t hold on to the moist soil any longer, falling on Cabrillo Boulevard just after a bout of heavy rainfall hit Santa Barbara around 8:30 Thursday morning.
Other areas saw lots of rain as well just minutes later. At the Solimar burn zone, mud and water could be seen flowing from the chard hillside. Low lying areas, like the funk zone and coastal parking lots were impacted by minor flooding.
While the rain is a welcomed site after several years of drought, not all drivers are enjoying it.
“Well I like it when I am indoors, but I don’t like it when I am driving because I feel like it is a little dangerous especially the cars that speed up on the freeway that is very dangerous,” said Guadalupe Torres of Santa Barbara.
“I love driving in the rain. It makes me way happier. My day has been 100-percent better than a sunny day so far because I am driving in the rain,” said Shannon Nixon of Santa Barbara.
If you do have to drive in the rain, here are a few safety tips from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department:
— Routinely check your tires. Check the tires’ tread depth, and for proper inflation.
— Slow down. As rain falls, it mixes with grime and oil on the road, creating slick conditions.
— Know how to recover from a skid. Remember not to slam on the brakes. Apply firm, steady pressure to the brakes and steer the car in the direction of the skid.
— Keep your distance from the car ahead. It takes about three times longer to break on wet roads than on dry roads.
— Turn on your headlights on. Not only do they help you see the road, but they’ll help other drivers see you.
— First rains make the road very slippery. First rains make the roads the most difficult to drive on, as the mud and oil combines with the water and forms a rather slippery layer.
— Dry your brakes after driving through standing water. If you have driven through standing water, apply the brakes lightly for a short time to dry them.
— Make sure that your wipers are in good condition and functioning properly. California law requires that if you have your wipers on, your vehicle’s headlights must also be on.
