By the Numbers: Initial storm impact
The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management has released a preliminary assessment of the Thursday-Friday storm.
Facts
The rainfall slightly exceeded the projected total: a rate of 0.6 of an inch of rain per hour was received US Highway 101 remained open all night 87 percent of residents in the Extreme Risk Area did evacuate 200 fire and National Guard personnel were on-scene overnight, including a swift water rescue unit, high profile vehicles, excavators, urban search and rescue, etc. Coast Guard and Santa Barbara County Air Support were on standby 26 people were in the Red Cross evacuation center as of midnight at Earl Warren Showgrounds
Impacts
At 5:40 a.m. the 1700 block of Highway 192 and Highway 192 at Bella Vista Drive were flooded. Crews are on scene working to clear these issues. MTD and Easy-Lift were on standby overnight to provide transportation assistance for individuals who may have become isolated
Schools Status for Friday, March 2 (partial list; families should contact schools directly for updates)
UCSB – classes in session Santa Barbara City College – classes in session Westmont – classes in session beginning at 11:30 a.m. Santa Barbara Unified School District – classes in session Carpinteria Unified School District – closed Montecito Union – classes in session at 3 Hope School District sites Cold Spring – classes in session at El Rancho Elementary in Goleta Laguna Blanca Lower – classes in session at Girls Inc. in Goleta Mt. Carmel – classes to be held at Notre Dame in Santa Barbara Cate School – on spring break
Preliminary Report for Utilities for Friday, March 2
SCE – no damage SoCalGas – no damage Montecito Water District – no damage Montecito Sanitary District – no damage
“The worst of the storm has passed and we are cautiously optimistic that due to a significant amount of pre-storm preparation we have come through this with minimal impact,” said Rob Lewin, director of the Office of Emergency Management. “Crews are currently completing assessment of all roads, debris basins, condition of utilities and other public facilities for damage or impact.”
