The Hills Are Alive with the Weight of Rain

Photo by Mark Luethi via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

Photo by Mark Luethi via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
The recent rain storms have put local hillsides - and the people who live below them - in a precarious position. Though the rain stopped days ago, debris basins and burn areas are still at risk of movement and will remain so for several weeks until the saturated soil dries out, according to Glendale News-Press.

The hillsides are so saturated from recent rains that even a small storm could cause significant damage. Yet Bob Spencer, spokesman for Los Angeles County Department of Public Works says the news isn't all bad. During the recent torrential rains, foothill-area debris basins only reached 20% of their capacity so there's plenty of room to handle more if we're hit again with more storms.

Spencer cautions though "that doesn't mean we are out of the woods" and that "it will be several weeks before the hillsides dry out."

Glendale police and officials have begun running helicopter patrols over the hillsides to monitor for fractures and fissures to prevent mudslides. What they've seen in the past few days is good news and if local weather conditions remain mild, they may reopen Deukmejian Wilderness Park later this week.