Residents near Angeles National Forest prepare for possible mudslides

Oct. 12, 2009 | By Patricia Nazario | KPCC

Patricia Nazario/KPCC

Stephen Klein and his son, Mark fill sandbags to put in front of their home on Quail Canyon Road in the City of Glendale.

Homeowners who live below the Angeles National Forest in scorched foothill and canyon areas are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready for rain in the forecast.

People are filling sandbags and erecting temporary walls to divert water, shrubs, and debris.

The city of Glendale’s Public Works Department positioned K-rail concrete barriers in front of several homes along Quail Canyon Road.

The street ends at the forest.

"We started sandbagging last Thursday and we had the perimeter closed. Then the city decided they were going to put out some K-rails," said resident Arthur Yeh. "The K-rails change the design of everything. So, now we’re getting more sand bags and trying to sure in the empty spots."

The city of Glendale trucked in sand last week and set up several depots, so people could start to prepare for the coming rains.

Many homeowners in the foothill towns of La Crescenta and La Canada are taking similar precautions.

The Station Fire that broke out in late August left many areas vulnerable to mudslides. Meteorologists expect heavy rainfall by midweek.

The storm brings the potential for heavy rain and strong winds in central and northern California. It's considered a strong storm system, especially for October. There is also the possibility of mud and debris flows in recent burn areas. However, L.A. County is expected to have less rainfall, between 0.75 and 1.5 inches, with 1.5 to 4 inches possible along the foothills and mountains.

The first rainfall of the season also makes for particularly slick roadways due to oil buildup over the summer.

This story incorporates information from wire services.

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