>> WE CAN SEE WHAT MAKES IT
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT.
LITTLE IF ANY LIGHT THERE.
WHEN IT COMINGS TO MUDSLIDES,
KNOWLEDGE IS EVERYTHING.
MAPPING AREAS AT RISK FOR
MUDSLIDES IS ESSENTIAL.
LOLITA LOPEZ JOINS US LIVE IN
STUDIO WITH INFORMATION THAT CAN
LITERALLY SAVE LIVES.
>> IF YOU HAVEN’T CHECKED IT OUT
ALREADY, YOU HAVE TO.
THIS IS A MAP, USGS MAP AND
FOLKS AT ESRI.
THESE ARE AREAS OF RISK FOR
DEBRIS AND MUD FLOW.
CHECK IT OUT.
THIS RED AND CRIMSON ARE AREAS
WITH HIGHER PERCENTAGE FOR THOSE
TYPES OF FLOWS.
I AM TALKING TO ONE OF THE MAIN PEOPLE BEHIND THE ON-GOING
RESEARCH.
WE FOUND IT TAKES VERY LITTLE TO
CREATE A MASSIVE PROBLEM.
>> THE THOMAS FIRE AREA,
IDENTIFIED A HALF INCH OVER ONE
HOUR IS ALL IT TAKES TO CAUSE
FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS.
>> IT IS SO FAST, IT IS ALMOST
RIGHT ON TOP OF THE RAIN, MUD,
DEBRIS, ROCKS, BOULDERS, AND
THAT CAN TRAVEL SUPER FAST,
FASTER THAN A PERSON CAN RUN.
>> THAT’S WHY JASON KEEN FROM
THE USGS LANDSLIDE PROGRAM SAYS
PAY ATTENTION TO WARNINGS.
>> THIS IS A WAKE UP CALL.
THOSE WARNINGS, EVACUATION
ORDERS SHOULD BE HEEDED BECAUSE
THEY WERE SPOT ON.
>> Reporter: MANY MUD SLIDES
TUESDAY HAPPENED IN AREAS THEY
MARKED AS HAVING HIGH LIKELIHOOD
OF DEBRIS FLOW IN INTENSE RAIN,
USING SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY AND
EQUIPMENT AND MONITORS ON THE
GROUND.
THEN THERE ARE AREAS OUTSIDE
PLACES WHERE DEBRIS FLOW WAS
CALCULATED TO MOST LIKELY
HAPPEN.
THIS IS MONTECITO, WHERE DEBRIS
AND MUD FLOW LED TO SEVERAL
DEATHS ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
THIS AREA IN BURBANK, NEAR BUT
NOT HIGHLIGHTED, SAW SIGNIFICANT
MUD SLIDES TOO.
THAT’S WHERE OUR NBC4 CREWS
CAPTURED THIS.
>> Reporter: ANOTHER WAVE OF MUD
DOWN CUB CLUB DRIVE.
>> THERE WERE MANDATORY
EVACUATIONS MONDAY AND NO
PARKING ON STREETS.
>> TAKES SEVERAL YEARS TO
RECOVER.
>> IN THE PAST, NETTING WAS USED
TO STOP MUD FROM COMING DOWN,
BUT IT WAS EXPENSIVE AND
SOMETIMES DOESN’T WORK WITH FAST
MOVING WEATHER LIKE WE HAVE BEEN
HAVING.
THE BEST THING IS BE READY,
CHECK IN WITH THE LATEST REPORTS
FROM FIRST RESPONDERS AND HERE.
PRIORITY ONE IS GET ON THE MAP.
YOU CAN PUT YOUR ADDRESS IN
THERE AND PINPOINT WHERE YOU
LIVE OR WORK, SEE IF YOU’RE NEAR
ANY OF THE AREAS.
>> THAT’S AMAZING, AND OF COURSE
WHEN AUTHORITIES SAY GO, THEY’VE
DONE THEIR HOMEWORK, YOU NEED TO