Damage from Southern California rains could top $60 million

Damage from the storms that battered Southern California is expected to top $60 million.

Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado declared a state of emergency Thursday for Los Angeles, Kings and Santa Barbara counties in response to the destructive rain, which caused some severe mudslides and flooding. States of emergency had already been declared in Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Tulare counties.

One of the hardest-hit areas was the foothill community of Highland in San Bernardino County. There, evacuations remained in place for 140 homes below an unstable 100-foot bluff. City officials said damage there was approaching $17 million alone.

At least 26 homes, most of them in another Highland neighborhood where a creek overflowed, sustained extensive damage. Floodwaters left behind 4 feet of mud and half-buried cars tipped up at odd angles.

Dozens of homes and businesses were also damaged in Laguna Beach. Silverado Canyon and the surrounding area in Orange County were also hard hit.

The Laguna Beach City Council was scheduled to meet Friday to discuss the disaster. A spokesman for Orange County told the Associated Press that damage estimates topped $23 million.

Forecasters predicted that a milder storm system would move in Saturday afternoon. And yet another storm cell could enter the region Tuesday.

San Diego County also took a beating, with flooding at Qualcomm Stadium. But city workers labored nonstop to pump an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water off the field before Thursday's Poinsettia Bowl between San Diego State and Navy. The game went on as scheduled with a field that was wet but not slushy.

--Sam Allen, Robert J. Lopez and Howard Blume

Photo: Daniel Sanchez, 24, looks at his 2007 Toyota Camry buried in mud on Tyler Street in the foothill community of Highland in San Bernardino County on Thursday. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Comments

[AdoptiveFather, Los Angeles CA]

The BP oil spill was labeled "the worst environmental disaster to ever hit America" by just about every news organization.

Well I've got news for you.

The BP spill was composed of organic material that is quickly being consumed by various petroleum eathing creatures and plants.

The "spill" from last weeks rain in SoCal is far worse by far considering all the toxic crap flushed onto our shores.

Anybody want to debate this?

[Josh]

Anyone know of specific donations setup to help victims that were affected by the floods out west?

[Adreana Langston]

A video of flooding off the 6th Street exit of the 710 Freeway South in Downtown Long Beach on Wednesday December 22, 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHf8-qAnqcw

The drainage system on the 6th Street exit of the 710 freeway South is not equip to handle the type of storms the area has been experiencing in the last year. Of course, since the city is broke, there will be no upgrades fourthcoming. But you'd think, in anticipation of this storm, that the city or CAL Trans would have blocked the 6th Street exit because as you'll see in still photos at the end of this video, the EXACT SAME THING happened in January 2010.

[LAHuman]

Every time I see this photo I am so amazed by the lack of mud on this man's pristinely white shoes!

[Marvin Jones]

Wow, this is like the flooding from Tropical Storm Hermine this past year in Texas. It flooded my family's home with 6 feet of water, washed away all houses, and ruined lives. We will be okay thanks to the donations of many and our flood insurance.

I hope these people are okay and right before Christmas? Geez...

[DHWTNews]

Check us out today!

[Ruskinite]

"Destructive"? A "disaster"?

Oh c'mon. Since when is rainfall in Southern California considered bad? The only thing bad is the decision made by people or greedy developers to build in areas they're not supposed to.

It's Mother Nature folks. If you don't like it, you can live in a condo in a highly populated area.

[EAGD]

Look on the bright side - Just think of the storm as having caused $60 million in economic activity.

[Joe]

The economic benefits of the rain far outweigh any of its adverse effect upon a few communities of whom shouldn't have been living in such regions anyway.

I have little sympathy for homeowners of whom put themselves in harm's way by so living in mostly high danger areas.

Not only do they put themselves at risk, but they put firefighters and other personell at high risk too even at cost of life and limb.

Have a nice day.

[Bob Johnson]

"that salesman LIED TO ME - he said this POC had 4-wheel drive and could survive anything."