Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued an executive order to expedite wildfire debris removal in Los Angeles County to prevent further destruction in fire zones if the county experiences heavy rainfall this winter and spring.
As firefighters continue to strengthen containment of the Eaton and Palisades fires and residents return to areas where evacuation orders have been lifted, damaging slides remain one of the dangers threatening neighborhoods. Burnt, unvegetated hillsides do not absorb moisture well, which can lead to flash floods and landslides that can collect debris and destroy structures in their path.
Newsom’s order was issued to reduce risk by removing debris, improving flood protection and stabilizing hillsides.
“As fires continue to be fought across Los Angeles County, the state is already preparing for damage from winter storms that could hit the burn scars and cause landslides and flooding,” Newsom said in a statement. . In a statement. “This order will help keep our emergency response focused on protecting our communities, not permits and paperwork.”
Southern California faced an extremely dry start to what is typically the wettest period of the year. Most of the rain and snow in this region occurs between October and April.
The current rainy season is in stark contrast to previous rainy seasons, when record rainfall not only blanketed the area’s hillsides but also caused damaging landslides in some canyon communities and roads in Los Angeles County. It is true.
A Pacific Palisades home was damaged in half when a hillside collapsed in the Pacific Palisades fire area last week. The fire did not cause any damage to the house, but some nearby houses were damaged or burned down. Parts of the road also collapsed down the hill under the weight of debris and water.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that the infrastructure of thousands of homes is at risk,” LAFD Capt. Eric Scott said last week. “And along with that, if your home is on a steep hillside, you can have issues like this.”
Scott said the department is mapping the property to identify potential hazards. Scott said the agency has mapped well over a third of these assets.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Scott said. “We will also have to deal with the rain and landslides that will occur.”
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