[Update: Jan. 17, 2023, 10 p.m.] Late Tuesday, President Joe Biden added Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey counties to the list of three California counties for which he has issued a Major Disaster Declaration. This declaration is of critical help not just for local governments and tribal authorities in making their disaster reimbursement claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but for individual homeowners and business owners as well. Read more here .
[Original Story] As blue skies and sunshine start to reassert themselves in Santa Barbara following a parade of atmospheric rivers that poured rain on the region over the past few weeks, county emergency planners are still trying to figure out just how big a hole they’ll have to dig themselves out of in the months ahead.
The good news for Santa Barbara County remains that nobody died, was injured, or went missing in the storms. That’s not to diminish the drama involved in 400 calls for rescue that first responders fielded. Of those, five required a helicopter hoist. Statewide, however, the picture is decidedly different. To date, 20 people have perished in the deluges, floods, mudslides and debris flows triggered by one of nine atmospheric rivers that have overwhelmed state skies since December 26. Presumably one of those casualties was the 5-year-old boy who was swept away in San Luis Obispo County.