Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Burbank in a neighborhood of million-dollar homes that was hit with heavy flooding — as well as a gas leak and power outage — amid Tuesday’s downpour.
The evacuations were announced for all of Country Club Drive by the city of Burbank at about 10:30 a.m. Police said all residents east of Via Montana were affected.
Earlier in the morning, police posted video on Twitter showing two vehicles being carried away in fast-moving storm waters along Country Club Drive. The vehicles appeared totaled, covered in mud, down the hill.
“These conditions are very dangerous,” police said, cautioning people not to attempt to cross such water.
Burbank at 7:30 a.m. had issued voluntary evacuations for many streets due to heavy rainfall in recent brush fire burn areas, and some roads were closed.
Those were lifted at 6 p.m.
During the afternoon, 12 Burbank firefighters were faced with heavy mud flow near the Deer Canyon and Sunset Basins that blocked streets and forced them and local residents to shelter in place, officials said.
One local resident who was evacuated, Heidi Domato-Fennel, said she could see firefighters on one street being blocked by the mud from driving.
Forty-seven customers in the area of Country Club Drive were also affected by a power outage, according to the city utility’s website. And Southern California Gas Co. confirmed a “significant gas leak” on Country Club Drive that crews were working to repair.
Area resident Sean Johnston told KTLA he had awoken to find that about a foot of silt had flooded his garage and swept away his mailbox.
“There must have been a massive wave of stuff … washing off the side of the house. Mud spatters were up to near the roof,” Johnston said. “When we have bad rains, this street will flood, I’ve seen that multiple times, but this was a little beyond … especially this amount of debris and couple vehicles being pushed down.”
Domato-Fennel said four to five feet of mud, water and debris came flooding down the street she lives on. While local officials advised not to park on that street, she said some people still did and cars and an RV could be seen washing down the roadway later.
When she and her family evacuated their home, they weren’t able to get their dog out in time. They closed all the doors of the house to keep the animal safely inside.
“Just shocking, you know, the power of nature,” she said.
An evacuation center was set up at McCambridge Recreation Center, 1515 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
Video taken of Country Club Drive minutes ago showing vehicles being carried away by fast-flowing storm water. These conditions are very dangerous. Please use caution. pic.twitter.com/my4qtMD5fC
— Burbank Police (@BurbankPD) January 9, 2018
This is how fast water is flowing from the hills above Burbank. This is a large amount of water, with even more rain expected. If you encounter water like this, do not attempt to cross it or drive through it. pic.twitter.com/MNwriPWGt8
— Burbank Police (@BurbankPD) January 9, 2018
Please see photos from the storm. If you witness significant mud, debris or fast flowing water, do not try to cross, or drive a vehicle through it and shelter in place. pic.twitter.com/RQNTHPc5z6
— City of Burbank (@BurbankCA) January 9, 2018