Burbank residents given voluntary evacuation order ahead of anticipated heavy rain
Burbank city officials have issued a voluntary evacuation order to hillside residents, starting early Saturday morning as heavy rainfall is expected to drench Southern California throughout the weekend.
The voluntary order applies to residents living along Country Club Drive above Via Montana and will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The National Weather Service predicts the Southland will see roughly 1.5 to 3 inches of rain in the coastal and valley areas, while the mountains and foothills could expect to see between 4 to 7 inches of rain.
Sgt. Derek Green, spokesman for the Burbank Police Department, said there is a potential for heavy mud and debris flow to occur in the area scarred by the La Tuna fire two years prior.
Police officers will regularly patrol the hillside beginning at 4 a.m. and will be on the lookout for any unusual increase in rain activity, according to Green.
Burbank Public Works crews have also set up barriers in the hillside area in case roadways need to be closed to traffic.
“If the situation worsens and we need to turn this into a mandatory evacuation we will. But as of right now we don’t anticipate that,” Green said.
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
