Update, March 21: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District is supporting pre-storm coordination activities in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The Corps received an expanded debris mission March 20 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Corps is coordinating with local, state and federal partners to create staging areas for equipment, as well as coordinating the types and amount of equipment needed by its contractor in preparation for upcoming storm response in those areas.
The Los Angeles District is removing debris from channels and basins to restore capacity and reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses.
Emergency Management provides engineering services to respond to national and natural disasters to minimize damages and help in recovery efforts.
Public Law 93-288 authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to task the Corps with disaster recovery missions under the Federal Response Plan.
FEMA announced Jan. 10 it amended the federal disaster assistance declaration made Dec. 4, 2017, for recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires to now include damage from flooding, mud flows and debris flows directly related to the wildfire.
In all, 11 debris basins were impacted: Cold Spring, San Ysidro, Montecito, Romero, Toro Upper-West, Toro East, Toro Lower-West, Arroyo Paredon, Santa Monica, Franklin and Gobernador.
As of Feb. 19; Romero, Arroyo Paredon, Toro East, Toro Upper-West, Toro Lower-West, Cold Spring, San Ysidro, Montecito, Franklin and Gobernador have been cleared.
Ten flood channels are also impacted: Hot Springs Creek, Montecito Creek, Oak Creek, San Ysidro Creek, Buena Vista Creek, Romero Creek, Toro Canyon, Toro Canyon East, Arroyo Paredon Creek and Franklin Wash.
This effort is in partnership with local, state and federal agencies in response to the devastating California wildfires and the resulting floods in Santa Barbara County.