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El Niño danger: Rain and gravity combine to create sea of mud

Southbound traffic on the 101 Freeway in Ventura County crawls through one lane Tuesday after mud flowed over the freeway.

Southbound traffic on the 101 Freeway in Ventura County crawls through one lane Tuesday after mud flowed over the freeway.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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As the latest El Niño rainstorm moved into Southern California, there were already signs that the combination of rain and gravity was creating problems.

Mud and debris flowed onto the 101 Freeway in northern Ventura County in an area that was recently burned in a fire, shutting northbound lanes.

Here are some questions and answers about mudslides.

FULL COVERAGE: El Niño in California >>

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Why are mudslides and debris flows so common in recently burned areas?

Debris flow has long been a concern in areas where wildfires have recently burned. Vegetation, once burned, can no longer hold back loose sediment.

The burned slopes can also become “water repellent,” said Jason Kean, a U.S. Geological Survey hydrologist whose research focuses on debris flow. Ash tends to clog the soil after fire, and oily substances can affect the ground’s ability to absorb water. Impact from the rain can also help seal the top layer of sediment.

It’s like water on a parking lot or the surface of a playground slide, Kean said: “When the rainfall hits it, it just runs right off .… The rapid runoff from these bare hill slopes can quickly pick up sediment, and that can transform into a really nasty debris flow.”

This graphic shows the danger.

How long does vegetation take to regrow?

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Although vegetation grows back in approximately five years after a fire, researchers estimate that it takes up to two decades for a hillside’s soil to be restored to pre-fire conditions.

Why does the drought make things worse?

Now with the drought, an unburned slope may act like a burn area. The dry conditions have caused some vegetation to die off. Officials pointed to major mudslides in northern Los Angeles County in November caused by heavy rains that hit hills where vegetation had died.

How can I protect my home?

Here are some general tips from L.A. County:

--Never underestimate the power of flows of debris.

--Try to direct debris flows away from structures by using materials such as sandbags, sand or lumber.

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--Avoid trying to confine the flow more than is absolutely required. Always use protection to deflect debris, but do not dam or stop it.

--Debris will often enter a building through windows. Board them up during a flow.

--Protect your most valuable property -- your home -- first. Then consider what time and money are available to protect less valuable objects such as swimming pools or plantings. Be prepared to sacrifice the use of portions of your property to achieve good protection.

MORE ON EL NIÑO

New El Niño storm slams into Southern California; mud flows onto 101 Freeway

Incoming El Niño storm brings risk of tornado and dime-sized hail

Tornado touches down in Vernon, damages buildings as El Niño storm pounds state

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