[Update] An evacuation order has been issued as of noon for the Thomas/Whittier/Sherpa fire burn areas to go into effect at 8 p.m. Residents in adjacent Debris Flow Risk Areas are warned by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office to consider evacuating as well or prepare to be isolated should a debris flow occur. The evacuation map can be found at readysbc.org . Residents should plug in their address to learn in what zone they reside.
[Original Story]
A whole lot of rain is poised to drop throughout Santa Barbara County through Tuesday, up to seven inches in places, according to the latest information from the National Weather Service. In response, county emergency managers sent out text warnings to "Get Ready Now" yesterday afternoon for everyone living in the evacuation "red zones" below recent burn scars — Thomas, Whittier, and Sherpa, in particular — and are considering next steps this afternoon. If the procession of storms lives up to the computer modeling, areas at risk of debris flow will be ordered to evacuate sometime today. A map to show areas at risk can be found at readysbc.org as well as information on how to sign up for alerts.