Downpour keeps emergency workers busy

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Heavy rains sent emergency workers scrambling to handle numerous traffic collisions, flooded roadways, overflowing sewers and stranded motorists throughout the Santa Barbara area on Wednesday.
“It’s harrowing and dangerous and changing at every moment,” CHP spokesman Officer Don Clotworthy said. “Accidents are popping up left and right. As fast as we can clear them, they’re occurring again.”

A jackknifed tractor-trailer, the first of several significant traffic incidents on Wednesday, clogged northbound traffic on Highway 101 just north of the Gaviota Tunnel at around 9 a.m., forcing intermittent closures of both lanes as emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage. The driver appeared unharmed and refused medical treatment.
“The big rig came to rest off the roadway and partially in the Gaviota Creek adjacent to the left lane,” Officer Clotworthy said.
CHP officers eventually closed both northbound lanes of Highway 101 early in the afternoon as workers removed the disabled tractor-trailer. Traffic started moving slowly through the area at around 4 p.m. after authorities opened the right lane of the highway.
Authorities recommended against using Highway 154 as an alternate route due to heavy rain, snow and potential rock and mudslides in San Marcos Pass. At least an inch of snow fell in the pass and workers closed East Camino Cielo Road at Painted Cave Road due to icy conditions.
“Citizens have to pay attention when we have a dangerous situation like this,” Officer Clotworthy said. “Safety is the number one priority.”
Around the same time crews started working on the jackknifed big rig, a truck pulling a trailer with three horses became stuck in quickly flowing waters while trying to cross Gaviota Creek at Hollister Ranch Road.
Firefighters, armed with ten-foot stabilizing poles, worked their way out to the stranded truck and assisted the driver before hauling the truck and trailer, with horses still inside, out of the rushing water in what County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow described as a “stellar” rescue.
At 11:50 a.m., a six-vehicle collision on the southbound lanes of Highway 101 at Las Positas Road resulted in multiple lane closures for about half an hour. One person sustained minor injuries in that incident, CHP dispatchers said.
Other reported accidents along Highway 101 included a CHP vehicle that lost control in a pocket of water near Glen Annie Road and hit the center divider; an SUV that flipped near Arroyo Quemado Lane; and several vehicles that became stuck in the mud while attempting to make U-turns near Mariposa Reina.
Dozens of reports of roadway flooding came in to emergency dispatchers, prompting one CHP operator to tell an officer, “We’re inundated with flood calls, so standby.”
In Santa Barbara, city crews blocked off flooded roads, handled water main breaks and sewer overflows, and kept a close eye on the Laguna pump station.
“We’ve got our full crews out there,” city streets manager Rick Fulmer said. “They know the hot spots where we have continual flooding.”
Along with the oft-flooded Calle Cesar Chavez near Cabrillo Boulevard, Fulmer said Gutierrez, Laguna and Cota streets all experienced heavy flooding during Wednesday's downpour.
“We called in all the crews that were in other areas, that were up in the hills,” he said. “We pulled them off storm drain work just to post flooding signs.”
In addition to a major water main break at Garden and Cota streets, a sewer cover popped open near the intersection of Milpas Street and Calle Puerto Vallarta at noon and spewed a mix of rainwater and sewage into the street.
“It’s sea level, and with the combination of tides being high and the amount of water down there, they had a burst,” Fulmer said.
Crews replaced and tightened the sewer cover, and set up signs warning the public of contaminated water. Fulmer urged residents to avoid stormwater runoff if they can and make sure to clean off their shoes and wet clothing before going indoors.
City officials reminded motorists to respect traffic barriers and report clogged street drains and flooding to the public works hotline at 564-5314.
With more heavy rains expected to pelt the Santa Barbara region through the weekend, authorities are also asking the public to remain cautious and avoid driving if possible.
“We are fortunate that so far we haven’t had any accidents that are serious in nature in terms of injuries,” Officer Clotworthy said. “…If you don’t have to drive, don’t drive. If you do, slow down.”
Flooded roadways that cause vehicles to hydroplane and lose control are a big cause for concern, he said, adding that officers reported seeing people driving too fast for the rainy conditions on Wednesday.
“It is treacherous out there, and if you think it’s difficult during the daytime to see pooling water, just wait until the sun goes down.”