Storm Aftermath Leaves Days of Cleaning, Assessment, & Preparations

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The holiday storm train has left the Central Coast for the most part, but there will be days of cleaning and many preparations before the next rain system arrives.

This appears to be a dry week, which is what every community needs that dealt with the hard rains.

The weekend impacts leave behind a work list that will take days or weeks depending on the damage.

The Santa Barbara waterfront has a sailboat wreckage to remove. That was completed by Marborg Industries Monday afternoon during low tide.

After a two day effort to save the Green Flash sailboat, the plan failed and it could not be towed back out from Santa Barbara's East Beach. The owner took off the mast and the motor and left the rest behind.

For years, the city has had to deal with these vessels that break from a Winter anchorage spot and if the owner does not have the funds it's costly to deal with the wreckage.

 Capt. Nathan Alldredge is the Santa Barbara Harbor Operations Manager. "Then it becomes an environmental hazard, becomes a safety hazard, the city and some of our non profit partners have to take on as sort of their responsibility."

As of January first there is now a mandatory insurance police required.  The waterfront department has worked for months to get the requirement in place for the harbor and nearshore waters that include the moorings and free anchorage.

It protects the boaters and protects the city from an unforeseen event.

Alldredge said, "having an insurance policy allows them to be able to work with the contractor (through) their insurance and to be able to get some repairs done or salvage the vessel or  bring it off the beach if it a loss or compensate for some kind of replacement for that boat."

For those without insurance now they will be cited and it will be a 60-day period before the vessel is impounded if the insurance is not obtained.

Alldredge said, "they can appeal to the waterfront director but after that if they don't show insurance the vessel is subject to be impounded  and the slip can be terminated."

The remaining waterfront area will get a full assessment, something all coastal communities will be doing, after the combination of King Tides and two serious storms starting in late December.

The base of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club is holding firm but it is now exposed with all the sand pulled out by the wave action in one corner on the western end. Tidal overflow was minor there. The parking lot was not impacted and a rock wall that was installed after past storms held as planned. It preserves the boat yard, parking areas, and businesses.

Yellow tape is up to keep the public out of the eroding area.

The Carpinteria sand berm has been reduced but still has protections where it sits in front of coastal apartments, some that are seasonal rentals.

The storm caused rock slides in many areas including Mountain Drive near Mission Ridge.

The Santa Barbara Airport and Highway 101 northbound west of Goleta are both open after closures over the weekend.