La Conchita residents hope Hydroseeding prevents another landslide

La Conchita residents hope to weather another storm and they are counting on Hydroseeding to help.

Locals say a rancher who bought the property above the town following a landslide lawsuit Hydroseeded the area after the Thomas Fire at his own expense.

Honorary Mayor Mike Bell thinks it will do the trick, but he said if he lived close to the hillside that came down in 1995 and 2005 he would obey the mandatory evacuation order.

Bell lives on the frontage road with his wife Barbara and keeps a close eye on his own makeshift weather center.

La Conchita has some slide areas that haven’t changed much since 10 people died in the landslide 13 years ago.

Home are still buried, a street is still closed and a cross marks the spot where a mother and her three daughters died.

Bell, who is considered to be the honorary mayor, said the green mix of seeds and mulch has led to some growth in the Thomas Fire scar area.

Deputies were parked along the roads. They estimate about half of the resident evacuated.

They went door to door to make sure they know who stayed behind.

The unincorporated community is expected to get more than 3 inches of rain from the current storm.