Residents of LA foothills allowed to return home after mudslides

February 08, 2010|ASSOCIATED PRESS

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. - Residents of foothill communities deluged by mudslides north of Los Angeles have been allowed to return home.

Sheriff’s Deputy Guillermina Saldana said that the final evacuation order was lifted yesterday for about 70 homes in the Paradise Valley area of La Canada Flintridge. Only residents with valid identification were to be allowed back into the neighborhood that was choked with a thick layer of mud and debris during a pummeling rain early Saturday.

Crews waded through thigh-high mud to check for gas leaks and survey damage in the area yesterday to determine whether it was safe for residents to return.

Forty-three houses in La Canada Flintridge were damaged and 500 more evacuated Saturday after mud and water overflowed basins and surged into streets, taking furniture, cars, and concrete barriers with it. About 70 homes remained evacuated yesterday morning. Nine of the damaged houses were declared unsafe to enter. Some residents said they were not told to get out until the brunt of the damage was done - unlike during heavy rains last month when officials repeatedly warned foothill communities to be on alert.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said that by the time officials saw how serious the storm was, it was too late to order evacuations for some and it was determined that it would be safer for them to take shelter in their homes.

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