Rain continued to pummel the Los Angeles area on Tuesday, and a
strong storm system is expected to arrive today which could bring
high winds and another inch of rain on top of already soaked
Angelenos.
Though the rain has washed out roads caused mudslides, and
killed nine people around Southern California, the UCLA campus only
sustained “very, very moderate” damage from leaks and
flooding, said Ron Calloway, director of crafts and alterations
with UCLA Facilities Management.
Facilities has received reports of water leaks at the Anderson
School of Management, a laboratory in the botany building and the
UCLA School of Medicine, though none of the damage was severe
enough to warrant the cancellation or relocation of classes,
Calloway said.
“Given the amount of rain inundation, we’re amazed
it’s as slight as it is,” Calloway said. “A
campus this size and this much rain, of course things will
happen.”
Calloway also said there is a chance other areas of campus had
experienced difficulties because of the rain and not yet reported
them.
A tree collapsed on the bus stop near the corner of Gayley and
Landfair avenues, which was most likely caused by the rain. By
Tuesday afternoon, much of the debris had been cleared from the
area.
Los Angeles Fire Department 37, which serves the Westwood and
UCLA area, has seen an increase in its number of weather-related
emergency calls for flooding and mudslides, though none originated
from UCLA, said Jim Wells, a spokesman for LAFD.
The fire station has had to deal with at least four mudslides in
the area, including one in Bel Air that caused a swimming pool to
slide down a hill, Wells said. No injuries were reported in the
mudslides.
A flash flood watch was in effect across much of Southern
California and a tornado warning was also issued for coastal areas.
A waterspout was seen briefly in Santa Monica Bay, the National
Weather Service reported.
Authorities said dozens of homes were evacuated or red-tagged
because they threatened to collapse from sliding hillsides.
Mudslides forced Amtrak officials to suspend train service north
of Los Angeles to Santa Barbara at least through Thursday.
The wild weather came from a series of storms that began
battering the state on Thursday, dumping 8.15 inches of rain on
downtown Los Angeles.
A total of 33.95 inches of rain has fallen in the city since
July 1, when California begins its yearly rainfall measurements.
The record, 38.18 inches, was set in 1883-1884.
Mayor James Hahn asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to urge
President Bush to issue a federal disaster declaration for the
city, which could open the way for federal assistance. The mayor
said damage has exceeded $10 million.
The consecutive days of rain proved too much for some saturated
hillsides.
In Oceanside, six homes already condemned due to a weakening
hillside continued to inch further toward collapse, threatening
several homes on a street below.
Northern California also was hit by severe thunderstorms and
hail. Trees were uprooted and roofs and fences damaged by two small
tornadoes near Sacramento.
Rain in Northern California tapered off on Tuesday, with only
isolated showers expected by Wednesday, said Bob Benjamin, National
Weather Service forecaster.
Though Northern California may see decreases in rainfall soon,
Los Angeles residents will likely have to weather more downpours
that could make this a record year for rain.
“The rain season isn’t over yet,” Wells
cautioned.
With reports from Bruin wire services.