The announcement on December 26 that the Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in California history, was 89 percent contained brought much-needed cheer to residents of Santa Barbara. However, the comfort was short-lived. On Jan. 9, the coastal community suffered another major setback after a storm that dumped nearly five inches of rain in less than three hours caused widespread flooding and massive mudslides. Downpour, which is not unusual during the winter months, is usually not a cause for significant concern. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay However, Thomas, who charred more than 281,000 acres, including critical vegetation that kept the slopes stable, had left the area particularly vulnerable. Authorities, worried about a potential disaster, had ordered residents near fire-damaged regions to evacuate ahead of the storm. But even they were surprised by the rapid pace at which the deadly torrent of mud, water, trees and boulders descended upon the valley. Aerial view of Montecito covered in debris, landslides and boulders. The most affected is the beautiful city of Montecito. Heavy rain inundated the city's south-facing slopes, flooding Montecito Creek and dropping huge boulders and copious amounts of mud into residential neighborhoods. The rubble destroyed more than 115 single-family homes and damaged dozens more. What made the situation worse is that the hardest-hit community was far from the Thomas Fire burn zone and, therefore, not subject to mandatory evacuation. At last count, 20 people, aged between 3 and 89, have died and two remain in critical condition. Three residents, including a 2-year-old girl, are missing. Although officials are trying to bring the more than 10,000 evacuated residents home, they fear that could take a few weeks. “There are a lot of people out here who haven't been able to go home and see them yet,” said Todd Ferryman, superintendent of Access Limited Construction, which is helping remove the boulders. “The sooner we make it open and safe for the public, the sooner we can get everyone back to their lives.” Demolition workers try to knock down huge boulders scattered throughout Montecito. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Sections of US Highway 101, which connects Southern and Northern California, remain closed indefinitely due to flooding and debris. The closure is also negatively affecting small businesses and restaurants in the area, which rely on local tourists during the winter. California Governor Jerry Brown acknowledges the plight of affected residents, saying, “Our hearts break for the communities first ravaged by wildfires and now devastated by these mudslides. We will leverage every available resource to help Californians recover from these tragedies.” Meanwhile, Montecito residents are already thinking about how to prevent similar disasters in the future. One option being considered is building ponds to collect debris and delay storm runoff. However, until a workable solution is found, citizens of the vulnerable city and surrounding areas will need to remain vigilant and evacuate to safer areas even in the event of the slightest chance of rain..