Community Invited to Winter Storm Preparedness and Debris Flow Risk Map Informational Meeting

The Montecito Fire Department, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District, and 1st District Supervisor Das Williams, will hold a community informational meeting in advance of the winter storm season.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Montecito Union School, 385 San Ysidro Road. It also will be streamed live on the county’s CSBTV cable channel 20 and YouTube at www.YouTube.com/user/CSBTV20.

The community meeting is designed to publicly release the Interactive Debris Flow Risk Map that identifies properties in local communities that may be at risk from debris flow or flooding this storm season.

The map will be used by local emergency managers to determine what portions of the community will be evacuated if necessary this winter.

The risk map is being updated to include the most up-to-date scientific research and data gathered following the Thomas Fire and the Jan. 9 Debris Flow.
If a storm is forecasted that may cause a debris flow, the risk area will be evacuated.

In the event of a rapidly developing storm with little to no warning, residents living in the risk areas should have a plan to protect themselves and their family if it is not safe to evacuate.

The new interactive map will be online at www.ReadySBC.org beginning Dec. 5. For more information on the updated map, contact the Montecito Fire Department, 805-969-7762.

Also on ReadySBC.org, residents and visitors should register for emergency alerts and download Storm Ready-Set-Go preparedness tips.
For assistance developing a family safety plan, contact a local fire department or visit https://www.ready.gov/.

— County of Santa Barbara.