Santa Barbara County officials are providing an update on the storm expected to hit the area this week and the potential for evacuations in debris flow risk areas.
Posted by KSBY on Monday, March 4, 2019
UPDATE – An evacuation order has been issued for the Thomas, Whittier, and Sherpa Fire burn areas beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone in these areas to leave as winds up to 35 mph and rain rates of between a half-inch and .80 inches per hour could occur.
Sheriff Bill Brown says this storm is more intense than the last several storms in the area.
The Red Cross will be opening up an evacuation center at Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Ave. in Goleta beginning at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
To view the evacuation map, click here.
Santa Barbara County officials are holding a press conference Monday afternoon regarding the upcoming storm and possible evacuations.
The briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be streamed live here.
Officials will be discussing the latest on the forecast, evacuations and what that means for schools and roads in the area.
Speakers will include Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, Montecito Fire Protection District Division Chief Mark Hartwig, California Highway Patrol Captain Cindy Pontes and Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Salcido.
As many as three to five inches of rain could fall in parts of southern Santa Barbara County, according to KSBY Chief Meteorologist Dave Hovde.
A flash flood watch for all burn areas in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles counties has been issued from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
