Evacuation warning: Tea Fire burn area

Evacuation warning issued for Tea Fire burn areas due to predicted heavy rain

Monday, November 24, 2008

PRESS RELEASE from the city and county of Santa Barbara and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Santa Barbara County and City emergency officials have issued an Evacuation Warning for the Tea Fire Burn Area, including the Sycamore Creek area and other areas immediately below the fire zone. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department has initiated the County's Reverse 9-1-1 call system to alert residents in both the county unincorporated area and within the City of Santa Barbara.

An Evacuation Warning means residents are advised of a possible emergency situation and they should be prepared to leave the area if the warning is upgraded to an Evacuation Order.

The current Evacuation Warning comes after the National Weather Service on Monday issued a Flash Flood Watch for the same area of Santa Barbara, including the Tea Fire Burn Area and the Sycamore Creek area below the burn area.

Emergency officials are advising residents now in advance of potential heavy rain that could arrive in the area Tuesday. Rainfall of one inch to two inches that falls in the burn area could trigger flooding, debris flows and falling rocks. The area contains hundreds of rocks and boulders that could damage homes, block roads and cause other damage.

Residents should have emergency plans in place and may want to consider leaving the area in advance of any mandatory evacuation orders. If you do plan to leave and have no other emergency shelter plans, you may contact the Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross at (805) 687-1331.

The County has also activated its Call Center line at (805) 681-5197. The Call Center will remain active as needed based on call volume.

City and County officials are closely monitoring the incoming storms and are activating initial response plans in anticipation of the potential flooding or debris flows that might occur.

Depending upon the rain and weather conditions, the City, the County and CalTrans may close several roads in the area, including:

• Mountain Drive between El Cielito and Cold Springs Road
• Highway 192 between Orizaba and Conejo Road
• Gibraltar Road
• Sycamore Canyon Road between Stanwood Drive and Five Points

To help the public understand what they are hearing when a weather-related emergency message is sent over television and radio stations, the NWS offers the following terms and explanations:

• Flash Flood Watch-A flash flood watch is used when the risk of flooding and/or debris flows near recent burn areas has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so. A flash flood watch is normally issued about six (6) hours to 24 hours in advance of an event.
• Flash Flood Warning-A flash flood warning is issued when flash flooding and/or debris flows near recent burn areas is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property. People should move to higher ground or shelter in place if safe to do so during a flash flood warning. A flash flood warning is issued based on radar rainfall estimates, rain gauge data, and ground truth reports prior to or during the heavy rain event. Lead times can vary from minutes to more than one hour.

A Flash Flood Watch and a Flash Flood Warning are the two most important messages issued by the NWS. In addition, the NWS may issue:

• Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory-An urban and small stream flood advisory is issued when minor flooding is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. An advisory is used for conditions that are more of a nuisance, such as ponding of water on low-lying fields, under bridge overpasses and city streets, and do not threaten life or property.

Residents should pay attention to local National Weather Service (NWS) information, which provides Flash Flood Watches and Warnings both on the NOAA Weather radio, and on the NWS website at www.weather.gov/losangeles.

A sand bag station is available for City and County residents desiring sand bags to protect their property. The station is located at the City of Santa Barbara's Corporate Annex Yard at 401 E. Yanonali Street.

The station will be open until 8 p.m., Monday, November 24 and will remain open from 7:30 a.m. 3 p.m. until further notice, except on holidays. There is no limit on the number of sand bags residents of the Tea Fire area may take. Residents should be prepared to fill sand bags and bring gloves and shovels.

Additional sand bags also are available at County Fire Station 14, 320 Los Carneros in Goleta and at the Montecito Fire Protection stations in Montecito.

In the event of a large emergency or disaster, the County will work with all bona fide news organizations to distribute emergency public information. The County's "Stations of Choice" for emergency news currently include the following AM stations-KTMS-990; KZSB-1290; KUHL-1410; KINF-1440, plus the San Marcos Pass Radio Station 1040-and the following FM stations-KCSB-91.9; KSYV-96.7; KTYD-99.9; KSBL-101.7 and KRAZ-105.9. In addition, the Spanish language FM stations, KSPE-94.5 and KIST-107.7 are also designated "Stations of Choice" in the cooperative agreement with the County.

For more information regarding the emergency preparedness, go online to www.CountyofSB.org, or the cities' websites at www.santabarbaraca.gov . For emergency preparedness tips go to www.Ready.gov.