A deluge of rainwater and mud wreaked havoc on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) on Thursday, leading to the closure of a significant stretch of the iconic coastal route. The incident, which unfolded from Santa Monica to the Malibu Pier, saw an L.A. Fire Department vehicle swept away by the powerful force of nature. This calamity occurred against the backdrop of an atmospheric river storm that has besieged L.A. County with relentless rainfall and debris flows, following last month’s destructive firestorms that had already caused prolonged closures along PCH.
The drama unfolded at 5 p.m. when a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department was driving along PCH in Malibu and was suddenly swept off the road and into the ocean by a debris flow originating from Big Rock Drive. Thankfully, the firefighter managed to escape from his vehicle and was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to LAFD spokesperson Erik Scott. Scott issued a plea to all residents, urging them to refrain from driving during the storm’s peak and exercise utmost caution in such treacherous conditions.
Pacific Coast Highway now stands deserted between Chautauqua Boulevard and Carbon Beach Terrace, as the California Department of Transportation declared an indefinite closure due to the extensive flooding and mudslides. These calamitous events began unfolding around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, escalating throughout the afternoon and evening as the rain intensified, as reported by Caltrans. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood alert for Pacific Palisades and a wide swath of the county around 4 p.m., warning of a high risk of life-threatening debris flows that could impact drainages, roads, and residences.
As the storm raged on, heavy debris flows were recorded at Duke’s Malibu, situated at the intersection of PCH and Las Flores Canyon Road. Despite surviving the fire that ravaged the area, the oceanfront restaurant found itself grappling with significant flood damage during the storm, prompting Caltrans crews to deploy heavy machinery to clear the roadways and remove the mud that had accumulated.
While PCH bore the brunt of the storm-related destruction, Caltrans crews were engaged in a flurry of activities across the county, tackling debris clearance and addressing flooding on various streets. Reports of mudslides and flash floods trickled in from the Eaton fire burn area in Altadena, as well as on Mulholland Drive and Outpost Drive in the Hollywood Hills. The heightened vulnerability of recently burned areas to landslides during heavy rainfall is attributed to the loss of vegetation that once anchored the soil, compounded by the reduced water absorption capacity of heat-damaged soil, leaving hillsides prone to erosion.
Debris flows, a menacing consequence of intense rainfall, can be triggered when rainfall rates surpass 0.5 inches per hour. On Thursday afternoon, the weather service forecasted rainfall rates ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches per hour for the L.A. area, underscoring the imminent danger posed by the ongoing storm. As the region grapples with the aftermath of this natural calamity, the resilience of the community shines through in the face of adversity.
