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Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — Monday Storm Update

by Community Contributor • January 9, 2023 • Comments Off

Storm Update

Our County first responders held their 3^rd emergency press conference Monday at 4 pm. I’ve included the video of the press conference below.

We expect heavy rain and potential thunderstorms overnight, with a high risk for flash flooding throughout Santa Barbara County and our neighboring counties. The request from our first responders is to please stay off the road unless you are evacuating or otherwise absolutely need to be. If you went to work today and must commute home, please do not attempt. Stay put for tonight. The northbound 101 freeway is closed from Highway 33 to Santa Claus Lane and again at the Gaviota tunnel, along with Highway 154 in both directions. The County has one emergency shelter open at the Wake Center located at 300 North Turnpike in the Eastern Goleta Valley between Goleta and Santa Barbara and is looking to open more. Please check the County of Santa Barbara’s social media and other news sources for updated emergency shelter information. You can also call 805-678-3073 for more Evacuation Center information.

This has been a long and harrowing day happening on the 5-year anniversary of the longest and most harrowing day our community has ever experienced. Please take care of yourself and utilize the mental health resources listed below. Do whatever you need to take care of yourself and release heavy emotions, including crying. My staff and I have been doing so off and on all day, worried about our constituents and in disbelief that we are all experiencing this again 5 years to the day. Our County staff and I were with you all on January 9, 2018, and we are with you today. Please follow the guidance about your situation and keep yourself and others safe. This is hard, and we are resilient and strong. We’ll get through this together.

Click here to see the 4:00 pm press conference

Mental Wellness

Today marks five years since the 1/9 Debris Flow of 2018, which occurred following the Thomas Fire. It is normal to experience feelings of fear, anxiety and sadness surrounding the anniversary of a disaster, especially with the current weather conditions requiring evacuation warnings and orders, falling on the 1/9 date. The Community Wellness Team, formed in response to the 1/9 Debris Flow, remains available to offer support and can be reached by calling 805-364-2750.

For linkage to mental health services or for urgent or crisis needs, please call the Behavioral Wellness 24/7 Access line at 1-888-868-1649. To learn more about the County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness, please visit https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness.

WEST BEACH CLOSURE

Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has closed West Beach in Santa Barbara from the Santa Barbara Harbor to 2,000 feet east of the eastern Mission Creek outfall in response to a spill of untreated sewage discharging into Mission Creek. The beach has been closed to all recreational water contact and the affected area is posted with signs. Contact with sewage-contaminated water increase the risk for certain types of illnesses.

Additionally, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services wants to remind residents about potential health risks associated with storm water runoff at countywide beaches. To minimize potential health risks, it is recommended that people do not swim, play or surf in the ocean and creeks for at least three days following a rain event.

School Information

It continues to be an evolving situation. This is the information we have at this time on school closures for tomorrow 1/10:

If your school district is not listed please visit their website.

Highway Closures

NORTHBOUND 101 CLOSED AT THE 33, THROUGH SANTA CLAUS LANE

EXPECT FLOODING ALONG SECTIONS OF NORTHBOUND 101 THROUGHOUT SUMMERLAND & MONTECITO, WITH INTERMITTENT CLOSURES AND ON/OFFRAMP CLOSURES

NORTHBOUND 101 CLOSED AT GAVIOTA

HIGHWAY 154 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS

AVOID TRAVEL IF YOU ARE NOT IN AN EVACUATION ORDER ZONE. ROADS ARE FLOODED AND DANGEROUS.

Check here for storm-related road closures: https://www.countyofsb.org/3675/Storm-Related-Road-Closures

Installation Cancelled

Unfortunately, we will be canceling tomorrow’s installation ceremony at the County Board of Supervisor’s first hearing of 2023 to keep folks safe and off the road. We will be rescheduling the celebration to a later date so stay tuned for that information.