Big Storm Brings Heavy Rains And Winds To Northern And Southern California

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - OCTOBER 13: County workers place K-rails to help divert flood waters around homes as residents at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, which were scorched and denuded by the 250-square-mile Station fire, fill sandbags as they prepare for possible flooding and mudslides as the West Coast's first major October storm in more than 45 years approaches on October 13, 2009 in La Canada Flintridge, California. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a much-anticipated report last week that estimates the likelihood of debris flows in 678 drainage basins in the area burned by the wildfire and includes maps of potential paths of destruction. The report concludes that there is an 80% likelihood of flows with very little rain because of the lack of vegetation to hold the hills in place. 12 hours of gentle sustained rain could cause mud and debris flows containing up to 100,000 cubic yards of debris, enough to cover a football field under about 60 feet of mud, and dangerous debris flows could reach miles into the cities. Ironically, California is in disparate need of rain because of prolonged drought conditions that have led to mandatory water rationing in cities, fallowed waterless farms and skyrocketing unemployment among farm workers. The arson-sparked Station fire began on August 26 and firefighters, unable contain more than 98 percent of it because of remote terrain, expect parts of it to burn until cooled by winter rain or snow. It is the largest in Los Angeles County history and the tenth largest ever fought in California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)