California mudslides MAP: Which areas are at threat? Latest danger zones MAPPED

Rescue teams have been working tirelessly to locate Americans still missing after deadly mudslides struck the wildfire-ravaged Montecito, north of Los Angeles, on Tuesday.

There are currently seven people still missing after the mudslides, with authorities now calling for public support in finding the locals, who range in age from two to 62-years-old. 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has made a plea for information on any of the missing residents, according to Reuters, while acknowledging that finding anyone alive would be a “miracle”.

The Sheriff’s Office said: “The missing persons were reported by family and friends, and resided in areas that were heavily damaged during the storm and subsequent mudslides.”

Unfortunately, the threat of more landslides has not yet past. Latest maps produced by ESRI show that huge swathes of southern California are still at risk from the landslides. 

The map below shows the danger zone spreads from Mission Canyon in the east, all the way to the Santa Clara River and down towards Ventura. 

Current estimates suggest there are still more than 6,000 people in ‘moderate’ danger zones, more than 3,300 in ‘low’ danger zones and just less than 1,000 living in ‘high’ danger zones.

There are about 10,300 people and 3,850 families at risk in total, according to ESRI.

Residents in several areas surrounding Montecito were ordered to evacuate on Friday.

Ryan Lanclos, of ESRI’s public safety industry team, said the map’s purpose is to give residents in the covered areas ample warning about the potential flooding risks.

He said: “This map has been made for the general public and the local community near the affected areas. 

“We hope this map will help the public better understand the potential impacts of heavy rainfall in the area and how recent wildfires have contributed to a higher risk of debris flow and flooding in certain locations.”

The ESRI map combines data collected from various geographical agencies such as USGS, Bureau of Land Management and NGA as well as NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

You can check the embedded map above for your residential area.

The mudslides struck earlier this week after heavy rain battered Montecito, where much of the vegetation had been wiped out by a recent spate of wildfires – the most destructive in California’s history. 

The destruction covered about 30 square miles, with some homes in the Santa Barbara area reduced to rubble after the disaster. 

California Governor Jerry Brown has expressed his condolences to all those affected by the disaster, while pledging to ensure all necessary resources are made available to victims. 

He said: “Our hearts beak for the communities first ravaged by fires and now these mudslides. 

“We will push for every available resource to help Californians recover from these tragedies.”

Meanwhile, chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, who lives nearby, said that everyone in the Montecito community was affected by the “catastrophic” mudslides. 

She said: “It’s not just a wealthy community, it’s filled with a lot of different types of people from all backgrounds.

“And there are families missing, there are people who are missing family members…it’s catastrophic.”

Read more: CALIFORNIA MUDSLIDE DAMAGE IN PICTURES