Outtakes from mudslide community meeting March 14

Comeaux was speaking at the third mudslide community meeting held in person at Thomas Aquinas College, 10000 Santa Paula-Ojai Road. It was also livestreamed and recorded HERE.

A previous in-person meeting was held March 6 at the Santa Paula Community Center and a Zoom meeting was held on March 4.

Near the end of the nearly two-hour meeting that concluded at 7:54 p.m., Cathy Collins, the college’s campus nurse, asked public officials to keep in mind the overall impact of the slide and encouraged all gathered to remain hopeful, as “faith can move mountains,” to which Comeaux quipped, "Pray that this particular mountain will not move at all."

At the start of the meeting, Comeaux said that "safety is the absolute No. 1 priority" for Caltrans, for residents, workers and anyone else who has reason to be out there.

He said Caltrans employees work alongside vehicles driving 65 mph and that  it "will not do work that is rushed and might result in an unsafe condition. It's not going to happen, it's not going to happen."

"I think we should start moving that dirt," said one meeting participant, who recounted the epic 1969 flood in Ventura County, when multiple roads and bridges were wiped out. "This is America!" he said to applause, asking why the road can't be cleared faster. He said his business is being affected because employees can't afford the gas for the long detours around the slide.

Shuttle

Martin Erickson, executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, said the Commission is looking at operating a shuttle as soon as possible and possibly as early as this coming week. Right now, the shuttle would replicate the routes people are taking above and below the slide.

Eventually, Erickson said, there is a possibility that if a path were developed, a shuttle plan would change, and, ideally, in May, if a lane is opened up, that is when the shuttle would probably terminate. He said Commission staff are working on getting a shuttle operating as quickly as possible.

Pedestrian path around slide unlikely to happen

Comeaux said Caltrans extensively reviewed the possibility of a pedestrian path around the slide and it is not possible, because any possible paths are either too close to the slide, which is still moving, or they are farther away from Caltrans’ public right-of-way on private property, which Caltrans has no access to.

There is a footpath that is too narrow and not safe and is on private property, Comeaux said, adding that Caltrans cannot force the public use of private property and the owners "have a right to do what's right for their own needs. ... I'm sorry that's the situation." He said the problem of not being able to use the road "boggles the mind."

Will Caltrans be proactive taking care of Hwy. 150 going forward?

To a question from an audience member about Caltrans taking better care of Highway 150 before the next disaster strikes, Comeaux said, this is "probably not a great time to further impede people from using the road. However, I'm going to ask our construction team, the leaders, the top people, ... what can you do. I will do that immediately. It's a good idea."

Advisories

Comeaux said people who want to be on an email list to get updates on the mudslide and future meetings can email him at Michael.comeaux@dot.ca.gov.   Additional inquires can be sent to D7inquiries@dot.ca.gov.

(Editor's note: Caltrans Public Information Officer email address has been corrected above.)

Mail delivery update

Ventura County Supervisor Matt LaVere started the meeting by addressing the needs of residents north of the slide just past Bridge Road up to Sisar Road who have to travel through Ojai and Ventura to get their mail in Santa Paula.

He said Rep. Salud Carbajal has been working on solutions to this problem.

Ojai Post Office Customer Service Supervisor Nancy Chavira said on March 18 that if people who are not currently getting home mail delivery due to the slide want to get their mail in Ojai, they need to go to the Ojai Post Office, rent a P.O. Box there, and then fill out a form to have their mail FORWARDED to that P.O. Box address.

The cost for a six-month P.O. Box rental is $100, she said. The Ojai Post Office phone number is 805-646-7904.

To date, residents in the 93060 ZIP code north of the slide, up to Sisar Road, have been given post boxes at the Santa Paula Post Office annex on Telegraph Road. They can continue to do so, unless they choose to have their mail forwarded to a U.S. Post Box in Ojai.

Impact on businesses

A woman asked if there are economic resources for small businesses affected by the slide. Supervisor LaVere said he does not believe there are funds available from the county government.

Has military been asked to help?

One resident asked why the military hasn't been tapped to help clear the road and build a pedestrian path around the slide. Comeaux said that, following the slide, multiple experts examined how to get people around the slide.

He said Caltrans cannot build a path close to the slide that is still expanding.

Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner spoke to the possibility of the community accessing fire roads. He said the Fire Department has access to fire roads through private properties and could only open them to the public in a severe emergency event, not a planned event for regular thoroughfares.

As for having the Seabees involved, Gardner said it "almost takes an act of Congress" to get them to respond to issues like fixing the road.

Dennison Grade

A resident asked Caltrans to explain the difference between work on the Dennison Grade, which is impacted by slides, and the Santa Paula mudslide. Comeaux said he would investigate if there is any planned larger-scale efforts to address problems with Dennison Grade.

Emergency preparation

Ojai Police Chief Trina Newman said the Sheriff's Office jurisdiction goes up to the Summit from the Ojai side under ordinary circumstances. However, since the slide, she said the Sheriff's Office is "servicing" calls from people north of the slide. She said response time for top-priority response — lights and sirens — is 26 minutes. And if a helicopter is called for, she said the Sheriff's Office will put a helicopter up.

Because there is only one way out of the area north of the slide, residents at the meeting expressed concern about how they would evacuate in case of an emergency.

Comeaux advised that if there is an emergency, people should leave as soon as possible.

Comeaux added that Caltrans is paying close attention to ensure that Dennison Grade remains open.

Ventura County Fire Chief Gardner responded to a question of whether firefighters will open fire roads and help residents escape through them in the case of an emergency.

Gardner said there are options in some emergency situations, such as sheltering in place, helicopter rescues, and the opening up of fire roads.

He said that with current conditions, Ventura County is a long way from a fire event like the Thomas Fire in 2017.

He told the audience: "I do share your angst and your concern. ... We will address your needs and be here for you. .. Be ready. Sign up for vcemergency.com and vcalerts." In the case of an emergency, "Evac early."

A frustrated resident asked why is it taking so long to fix the road.

Comeaux thanked the questioner for asking the "hard questions." He said multliple teams of designers, planners, builders are working on extended and accelerated solutions. He added that Caltrans has policies that are tested and "tried and true" and that Caltrans will stick with them.

Canyon Irrigation Company

Comeaux said he has no information how the irrigation company is affected by the slide. He said the last communication he had was that it is still in operation. Comeaux said that if Caltrans moves material on the highway, more material will come down, including down on the irrigation company facility.

He said the company's roof was not damaged by the initial slide, but has been damaged by subsequent material coming down from the slide area.

Utilities

Comeaux said there are several utilities running along the highway, including:

— a 6-inch gravity oil pipeline, operated by Crimson Pipeline

— a 5-inch natural gas pipeline by Carbon, which he said has been "depressurized."

— a Southern California Gas distribution and transmission line

— a city of Santa Paula drinking water line

— a local irrigation line is still operational under the roadway

— a Fronter line

— Southern California Edison transmission lines

— a local irrigation line is still operational under the roadway

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