SierraMudre.Info - Your Source for Info About Sierra Madre Mud & Debris Flow - a division of SierraMadreNews.Net

National Weather Service Forecast for Sierra Madre

Recent City and County Alerts at a Glance

2/18/11, 12:30pm - City Issues Yellow Flag Alert

2/15/11, 4:40pm - City Issues Green Flag Alert

My Observations

Please note that during the summer I lost my hard drive, and at that time I lost the database of folks that had requested to receive alerts regarding mud updates from SierraMudre.info.  If you were on that list, please note that you will not receive notices unless you re-sign up to receive notices.  My apologies for any inconvenience.

How It All Started City Stuff Online Resources SM Mud/Debris Flow Incidents Santa Anita Fire - 4/26/08 Less than 3% of the predicted ten year storm mud-flow is expected to come from the One Carter property, some of which was denuded by fire, and some by the developer.  So the development at One Carter was also a (minor) contributing factor to the potential mud and debris flow problems the City is facing. Public Works Dept. PowerPoint Presentation of City Preparations updated 11/6/08 Sign up for City's E-mail Blasts Ready for Seven Flyer Ready, Set, Go - Flag System Map of Potential Mudflow Area, Phase I - Definition of Phase I Map of Potential Mudflow Area, Phase II - Definition of Phase II Map of Potential Mudflow Area, Phase III - Definition of Phase III Evacuation Area 1 - Santa Anita west to Camillo, evacuate to SM School Upper Campus Evacuation Area 2 - Lower Canyon, evacuate to SM School Upper Campus Evacuation Area 3 - Upper Canyon, evacuate to SM School Lower Campus Evacuation Area 4 - Mountain Trail west to Auburn, evacuate to SM School Lower Campus   Phase I = Small isolated debris and mudflows possible at specific locations.  Streets may be flooded or blocked by debris.  Reports of debris on private property may be received.  Few, if any, structures may be endangered. Phase II = Moderate debris and mudflows possible at more widespread locations.  Some streets may be completely blocked by debris.  Depending on location and terrain, some structures may be endangered by debris and mudflows. Phase III = The potential exists for significant debris and mudflows to be widespread over specific areas.  Streets may be blocked and considered unsafe for travel.  Many structures could be endangered by debris and mudflows.  Extreme caution should be exercised below uncontrolled canyons due to sudden debris and mudflows. DURING AN INCIDENT Evacuation Area Maps/Routes Map of Evacuation Area 1 - Santa Anita west to Camillo, evacuate to SM School Upper Campus Map of Evacuation Area 2 - Lower Canyon, evacuate to SM School Upper Campus Map of Evacuation Area 3 - Upper Canyon, evacuate to SM School Lower Campus Map of Evacuation Area 4 - Mountain Trail west to Auburn, evacuate to SM School Lower Campus Communication City Emergency Blog (1-way) read reports posted by City staff City Website SierraMadreNews.Net (1-way) read reports posted by Sierra Madre News Net SierraMadreNewsNet Blog (2-way) read reports posted by Sierra Madre News Net and City residents, post your own 91024 Blog (2-way) Read reports posted by FC Blog and City residents, post your own The FC Blog (2-way) Read reports posted by FC Blog and City residents, post your own Sign up for City's E-mail Blasts E-Notify - LACDPW Mudflow Prediction Alerts by E-mail Incident Information System (InciWeb) IN PREPARATION FOR INCIDENTS Sign up for City's E-mail Blasts E-Notify - LACDPW Mudflow Prediction Alerts by E-mail Flood Insurance LACDPW Homeowner's Guide for Flood Debris and Erosion Control ESP Disaster Survival Tips (LA County Office of Emergency Management SGVN Disaster Awareness Guide 12/5/09 - 12/19/09 Rains, mudslide on Skyland, rock slide on Mt. Wilson Trail 10/12/09 - 10/14/09 2/4 to 2/9/09 Rains, Debris Flow on Skyland Drive and Woodland Drive (click photo to enlarge, click text to view text and photo  coverage) 1/20/09 - 1/22/09 Rain Alerts December 14 - 17th Rains Skyland Drive November 26th Incident, 801 Skyland Drive  Photo by Mary Dotson Santa Anita Incident - 5/22/08

City and County Alerts/Releases

2/18/11, 12:30pm - City of Sierra Madre Issues Yellow Flag Alert

The City of Sierra Madre has issued a Yellow Flag Alert today. The County of Los Angeles Public Works Department has issued a Phase 1 Mudflow Forecast.  A Phase 1 indicates that small isolated debris and mudflows are possible at specific locations.

Streets may be flooded or blocked by debris. Woodland Drive, Skyland Drive, and other streets may be closed due to blockage. Should debris flows occur overnight, crews will begin clearing the following morning.

Parking restrictions are now in effect in the Upper and Lower Canyon during Yellow or Red Flag alerts. Vehicles parked on the streets may be towed at owner’s expense.

The affected streets are: Mount Wilson Trail, Churchill Rd., Skyland Dr., Fern Glen, Fern Dr., Idlehour Ln., Canyon Crest Dr., Orange Dr., Woodland Dr., Brookside Lane (upper, middle, and lower segments), Sunnyside Lane, Sturtevant Dr., and Yucca Trail. Overnight parking restrictions through the rest of the city are lifted during Yellow or Red Flag Alerts.

The City Public Works Department may determine that Upper Brookside Lane and the very northern portion of Woodland Drive will be closed and a temporary debris wall will be erected.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to be "set" to leave at a moment’s notice and may choose to voluntarily evacuate. In the event the City receives a Phase 2 or Phase 3 alert from the County, a Red Flag Alert will be issued that will most likely include mandatory evacuation orders. Evacuated residents will not be allowed to return into an evacuation area until the order is lifted.


For additional information and updates:

PHONE: City Hall - 626-355-7135 (business hours 7:30am – 5:30pm)
Police Dept - 626-355-1414 (non-emergency, 911 for emergencies)

City Website (http://www.cityofsierramadre.com/)
SMTV3, (channel 3 on Time Warner Cable)
Sierra Madre Emergency Blog (http://www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com/)
Community Radio – AM 1630
Email Alerts “eBlasts” – Register to receive email notices by clicking the link on the City’s website homepage.

City of Sierra Madre Issues Green Flag Alert

The City of Sierra Madre has issued a Green Flag Alert for mudslides and debris flows in the hillside communities. The National Weather Service has forecast a 100% chance of precipitation beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, February 16, 2011.

A Green Flag Alert is issued when there is an 80% chance or more of precipitation. Affected residents should get ready for potential evacuation and keep close watch on weather forecasts. This includes residents of the Upper and Lower Canyon as well as any resident whose property abuts the hillsides.  As we are in the midst of the rainy season, City Officials would like to remind residents of our mud and debris flow alert system.

A series of three different colored flags will be flown at four different locations in the City (City Hall, Search and Rescue Station, Mountain Trail at Churchill Road, and Mary’s Market). When possible, flags will be displayed indicating one of three stages of emergency. Be sure to check the website, email alerts, SMTV3, AM 1630, or simply call City Hall or the Police Department to confirm the current stage of emergency and please understand the City may not always have the ability to change these flags the moment conditions or forecasts change.

The City has identified a number of streets that will need to be clear of all vehicles during a Yellow Flag or Red Flag alert. The affected streets are: Mount Wilson Trail, Churchill Road, Skyland Drive, Fern Glen, Fern Drive, Idlehour Lane, Canyon Crest Drive, Orange Drive, Woodland Drive, Brookside Lane, Sturtevant Drive, Sunnyside Lane, and Yucca Trail.  The Yellow and Red Flag Alerts will trigger vehicles being towed from these streets at the owners’ expense.

Stage One: GREEN FLAG - Activated under a prediction of 80% - 100% chance of precipitation. Affected residents should get “READY” for potential evacuation. This includes keeping a close watch on weather forecasts.

Stage Two: YELLOW FLAG - Activated with an LA County Phase 1 mudflow forecast. This is described as small, isolated debris and mudflows possible at specific locations. Affected residents should get “SET” to leave their homes and may choose to voluntarily evacuate. Please note that all vehicles must be off the streets in potential mudflow areas during Yellow Flag alerts.

Stage Three: RED FLAG - Activated with an LA County Phase 2 or 3 forecast. Phase 2 includes moderate debris and mudflows at more widespread locations. Phase 3 - the potential exists for significant debris and mudflows to be widespread. Affected residents should “GO”, meaning they should immediately evacuate, and vehicles should not be parked on the streets.

When evacuating, please plan to be as self-sufficient as possible with important paperwork, medications, and clothing for at least seven days. It is important anticipate a possible evacuation order, and make plans for your pets in advance.

Please note that Public Safety Officials do not take evacuation orders lightly and residents should heed these orders. Once mud begins to flow, Emergency Responders will NOT rescue those who failed to evacuate until the mud has stopped flowing and it is safe for responders to enter the mud flow areas.

For more information about mudslide and debris flow preparations, please visit www.cityofsierramadre.com and click “Emergency Preparedness Information” and on the home page. Updates will also be issued on SMTV3 (Time Warner-channel 3), Sierra Madre Community Radio (AM 1630), and the City’s Emergency Blog (http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com).

**  Regarding both the SierraMudre.Info website and its alert notice e-mail list - While we will do our best to post alerts and send e-mail notices in a timely manner, there are many reasons why we may not be able to send e-mail alerts and/or update the website when notices are received.  SierraMudre.Info and SierraMadreNews.net are basically one-person operations.  If I am out patrolling the area, or working, or out of town, or just out of the office, or away from my computer for any reason, I may not be aware that an alert has come in.  SierraMadreNews.net and SierraMudre.info offer this website and the e-mail alert program as a public service, and accept no responsibility for the passage of time between alerts arriving in our office and the posting on our site or the sending of an alert by our program.  By signing up for this e-mail alert program, you are acknowledging that you recognize that alerts may not be sent in a timely manner, and agree to hold harmless and indemnify SierraMadreNews.net, SierraMudre.info, The Coburn Group and Bill Coburn in the event of any damage or harm caused by storms, mudflow and debris.  E-mail notices will be sent when we post notices that we have received alerts regarding potential mudflow or change in storm alert status from any government agency, i.e., the City of Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works, etc.  For OFFICIAL news and information, visit the City's emergency blog: http://sierramadrepio.blogspot.com   SIGN UP FOR THE SIERRAMUDRE.INFO E-MAIL ALERT NOTICE PROGRAM