> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Santa Monica weathers out the storm - URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-weathers-out-the-storm/ - Published: 2005-01-11T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T05:59:24.000Z - Author: John Wood - Tags: Environment, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Road closures, threat of mudslides slows traffic* PCH — The threat of mudslides and flooding in Santa Monica on Monday forced the closure of the California Incline and the on-ramp to Pacific Coast Highway from Ocean Avenue. “This is just an incredible amount of rainfall,” said Craig Perkins, director of the city’s environmental and public works department. “The problem with the bluffs is that they’re totally saturated at this point. Any rainfall that occurs now is flowing over the surface and carrying little clumps of mud down onto the incline and onto PCH... There’s not much we can do until it stops raining.” A major bluff collapse could happen at any time, Perkins said. “It’s impossible to predict when that may occur,” he added, saying major slides historically have occurred after wet weather and earthquakes. “All we can do is hope.” In addition to closing the California Incline, which leads from the top of the bluffs down to PCH, as well as the closing of the on-ramp to PCH from Ocean Avenue, the McClure Tunnel at the juncture of Interstate 10 and PCH was closed briefly at times through Monday due to flooding, officials said. At other times, it was reduced to one lane. On Sunday, Moomat Ahiko Way, the off-ramp from PCH to Ocean Avenue, was closed for several hours after a tree fell onto the roadway, Perkins said. Seasonal rainfall in Los Angeles had already exceeded 22 inches Monday, more than seven inches over the average of 15 inches, with another six months remaining in the rain season, according to Perkins. Heavy showers were expected to continue through Monday night and Tuesday morning. The storms had claimed at least 10 lives in Southern California as of Monday evening. An additional six to 12 people reportedly were missing after a major mudslide in La Conchita, a sleepy beach-front community between Santa Barbara and Ventura. At least one person died in the slide, which injured 15 people. Despite cautionary road closures and areas of minor flooding, officials said Santa Monica was faring well through the heavy storms. They credited an advanced drainage system and the natural topography of the city, which slopes from the northeast corner down to the southwest corner. “Everything drains off pretty good now,” said Santa Monica Fire Department Chief Jim Hone. “Things are going quite well. I hope they stay that way.” Neighboring communities apparently have had more difficulty with the storms. Low-lying Venice is susceptible to flooding, and slides have been triggered in the canyons and bluffs of Pacific Palisades and Malibu. At least one motorist was killed Sunday when he reportedly drove into a mud patch in Malibu and careened off of PCH into the ocean. Ricardo Quintero, a public affairs officer for the California Highway Patrol, urged motorists to depart earlier, drive slower and leave extra space between theirs and the car in front of them. He said cars can hydroplane at speeds of 45 to 50 miles per hour, in as little as half an inch of water, adding center lanes typically are safer because freeways are taller in the middle and puddling occurs on the outer lanes. Additionally, Quintero pointed to a new 2005 law that requires motorists to use their headlights when continuously running their windshield wipers. The message for heightened safety on the roadways apparently is being heard, according to Quintero, who said there were 169 reported car accidents in Los Angeles County early Monday morning, compared to more than 203 last Monday morning. Both mornings experienced heavy showers. “I think a lot of people are starting to realize, ‘Wait a minute, it is dangerous,’” Quintero said. Locally, smaller effects of the storm were widely felt. Jose Barba of the Big Blue Bus said buses were delayed and in some instances rerouted. Mark Olson of Southern California Edison said there were local power outages within several of Santa Monica’s 36 power grids. Jeanne Wells of the local school district announced early Monday all of Malibu’s public schools would be closed. To help residents deal with encroaching water, all four Santa Monica fire stations are providing sand bags, and free sand can be picked up at Memorial Park off of Olympic Boulevard. “We’ve had sandbags available to residents and from everything we can tell they’ve been well used,” said Judy Rambeau, a spokeswoman for City Hall. “Certainly, any sustained rainstorm like this we do watch the bluffs closely, and the storm drains, to make sure they don’t back up.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/011105-03_01-8.jpg) Workers break down the big top tent near the Santa Monica Pier on Monday in the rain. (Photo: Nicky Five Aces/Five Aces Photo) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 11, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/011105.pdf?ref=smdp.com)