LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, Calif. (AP) — There are no reported injuries after thunderous mudslides damaged dozens of homes, swept away cars and pushed furniture into the streets of the foothills north of Los Angeles on Saturday.
The mudslides were the result of intense winter rain that poured down mountains denuded by a summer wildfire.
Residents and emergency responders were caught off guard by the unpredicted ferocity of the storm, which damaged more than 40 homes and dozens of vehicles.
About 800 homes across Los Angeles County were evacuated for much of the day after heavy rains at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains overflowed debris basins, carried away cement barricades and filled houses with mud and rocks.
Officials say nine homes have been declared uninhabitable.
Residents of all but about 70 homes were allowed to return home under clear skies Saturday night as another round of rains proved tame and moved on quickly.
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<<CUT …275 (02/06/10)>> 00:17 "down the street (second reference)"
Steve Zermeno, inspector, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Steve Zermeno, an inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, says they didn't anticipate how bad a slow-moving storm would be.
<<CUT …276 (02/06/10)>> 00:12 "to this point"
Steve Zermeno, inspector, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Steve Zermeno, an inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, says they were prepared, but the rains did produce heavy damage.
<<CUT …277 (02/06/10)>> 00:11 "else is holding"
Steve Zermeno, inspector, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Steve Zermeno, an inspector with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, says they are still evacuating people and emergency personnel remain in place in the event conditions worsen. ((watch for dating))
<<APPHOTO CALOS105 (02/06/10)>>
: Terri Dearman, 44, evacuates her home destroyed in mudslide on 5700 block of Ocean View Blvd., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, in La Canada Flintridge, Calif.
<<APPHOTO CALOS102 (02/06/10)>>
: PJ Pesce surveys the mud and rain damage to his guest house alongside his dog "Lefty" on Castair Drive following heavy rains early Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Hollywood, Calif. Firemen put a red condemned sign on the property which sits on Castair Drive off off Nichols Canyon Road and Dresden Drive in Hollywood Hills.
<<APPHOTO CABH110 (02/06/10)>>
: Crews work to remove vehicles that were swept down Ocean View Blvd. by a mudslide in La Canada Flintridge, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
<<APPHOTO CABH111 (02/06/10)>>
: Crews work to clean up Ocean View Blvd. after a mudslide in La Canada Flintridge, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
