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Rain in Monterey County Increases the Need for Debris Flow Awareness

The rain we are experiencing in Monterey County on Friday, January 22 is increasing the risk of debris flow in and around our wildfire burns scars. Debris flows are rivers of rock, earth, and other debris soaked with water and are a fast-moving type of landslide that can reach rates faster than 20 mph, occur with little or no warning, and travel for miles. Monterey County Office of Emergency Services is hearing reports of some flow and is encouraging residents who live one to two miles from any of the burned areas to be on heightened alert for debris flow. Signs of debris flow include: Rising and/or water that turns from clear to muddy. Movement of fences, retaining walls, poles, boulders, trees or bulging/shifting ground at the base of a slope. New cracks in plaster, tile, brick, streets, or foundations. Windows/doors jamming for the first time. Unusual sounds (ex. trees cracking. boulders knocking together, faint rumbling that is increasing in volume). Collapsed pavement, mud, or fallen rocks. Residents who live near slopes should NOT sleep in lower-floor bedrooms on the sides of houses that face hazardous slopes, especially on rainy days. Attached is information about landslide safety. All residents should also sign up to receive emergency alerts at www.alertmontereycounty.org; these alerts can provide lifesaving evacuation notifications. Evacuation is often the only way to protect yourself from a debris flow. If you feel your life is in danger, DO NOT wait for an alert to evacuate, move away from the path of a debris flow as fast as you can! If you are not sure about the proximity of your property to the burn scar or need information on preparedness for debris flow, please check the Monterey County Office of Emergency Winter Storm Preparedness webpage at: https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/administrative-office/office-of-emergency-services/ready-monterey-county/winter-storm Winter is not over yet and more rain is coming! Consider getting a flood insurance policy from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); this type of insurance can cover debris flows and other types of landslides. Reach out to NFIP today, as it can take up to 30 days for the policy to take effect.

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