California mudslide News

California Bills Inspired by 2017 Mudslides and Fires Clear Committee

Two bills inspired by the 2017 mudslides and fires in California that are designed to help prevent homeowners from being underinsured when disaster strikes passed the Assembly Insurance Committee on Wednesday. The bills, sponsored by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, …

California Mudslide Claims Top $421M

Insurers have received more than 2,000 insurance claims totaling more than $421 million in losses from the deadly Montecito, Calif. mudslide that destroyed or damaged more than 400 homes and businesses and killed 21 people, the California Department of Insurance …

California Commissioner Says Insurers Should Cover Mudslide if Fire Was Cause

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today issued a formal notice to all property/casualty insurers reminding them of their duty to cover damages from the recent mudslide and debris flows if it is determined that the burning of hillsides and vegetation …

Conflicting California Mudslide Warnings Were Issued, Report Shows

In the days before mudslides devastated California neighborhoods, officials released conflicting evacuation orders that left some hard-hit neighborhoods out of the warning zone, a newspaper reported. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office had posted on its website and on Facebook …

Hard-hit California Town to Get Little Rain from Storm

Crews clearing mud and restoring utilities in Montecito, California, have another day of dry weather before the next chance of rain, but forecasters say the approaching system is weakening. The National Weather Service says Montecito should see very little precipitation …

California Utilities Sued Over Deadly Mudslides

Two utilities were sued Tuesday for the widespread destruction from last week’s deadly mudslides that were caused when hillsides ravaged by California’s largest wildfire let loose in heavy rain. An amended negligence lawsuit filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court …

California Mudslides: Residents Commit to Rebuilding

At the end of a heartbreaking week that saw deadly mudslides kill at least 20, residents of Montecito gathered to grieve, pay tribute to victims and commit to rebuilding their cherished community on the Southern California coast. Mourners lit prayer …

Deaths, Damage from California Mudslides Rise in Wealthy Montecito Community

The mudslides on the California coastal town of Montecito have devastated a wealthy enclave where billionaires including Charlie Munger, Eric Schmidt and Oprah Winfrey own properties, with hundreds of millions of dollars of damage in one of America’s most expensive …

California Mudslide Victims ID’d as Crews Continue Survivor Search

The oldest victim swept away in a California mudslide was Jim Mitchell, who had celebrated his 89th birthday the day before. He died with his wife of more than 50 years, Alice. The youngest, 3-year-old Kailly Benitez, was one of …

Search for Victims of California Mudslide Continues, 17 Dead

Hundreds of searchers continued the grueling work Thursday of hunting for survivors and digging up bodies in the sea of mud and wreckage left by flash flooding in Montecito, Calif. The death toll from Tuesday’s flash flood rose to 17 …