Montecito Creek & Winter Storm Preparedness Community Meeting

Preparing for winter in Montecito is a community effort.

On September 14, 2026, residents, local agencies, and elected representatives came together to discuss Montecito’s creeks, flood-control infrastructure, winter storm preparedness, and the coordination that takes place before and during severe weather.

Visit the County of Santa Barbara's El Niño 2026-27 webpage

With concerns about creek conditions and the potential for a strong El Niño season, representatives from Santa Barbara County and partner agencies shared updates on current conditions, ongoing maintenance, long-term flood protection projects, emergency preparedness and resources available to residents. The meeting includes an El Niño outlook from the National Weather Service, an overview of Montecito’s creeks and debris basins from County Flood Control, information about emergency alerts and storm response, and a community Q&A.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for ReadySBC Alerts and stay informed before and during severe weather.

Watch the Montecito Creeks & Flood Control Community Meeting below:

Sandbag Filling Station

Montecito Fire Department supplies a sandbag filling station at Lower Manning Park in advance of rain events. 

449 San Ysidro Rd
Lower Manning Park
Montecito, CA 93108-2133

Link to Map

 

 Visit the Storm Impact Consideration Map 

Watch the Winter Storm Preparedness Video

The Storm Impact Consideration Map was last updated in December 2021 and represents Montecito’s debris flow risk for the next several years. Areas at greatest risk of damage during a debris flow are shaded in red. If your property falls within the red shading, you should have a plan to evacuate in the event of a severe rainstorm. Type your address into the map's search bar to determine whether your property is at risk of impacts from a debris flow. 

Properties outlined in red will be considered for evacuation if a saturation rainfall event occurs with a period of high intensity, short duration rainfall embedded. A saturation rainfall event is defined as approximately 8-10 inches of rain in 36-48 hours. A period of high intensity, short duration rain, such as a thunderstorm or microburst, that happens during the 36-48 hours of saturating rain, could trigger a debris flow.  You may be ordered to move to higher ground or evacuate your property.

Montecito has a long history of flooding and debris flow. Five years after the 1964 Coyote Fire, Montecito experienced a significant debris flow in 1969. We again experienced a debris flow following the 2017 Thomas Fire. While our risk is reduced each year as the watershed recovers, our community remains at risk for debris flow.

Several mitigation measures have been implemented in our community since the 1/9 Debris Flow that reduce our risk for severe impact. These measures include the Randall Road Debris Basin, substantial improvement to existing debris basins and ongoing work to keep the waterways clear.

The Storm Impact Consideration Map was created by Atkins Engineering, a consultant of the Montecito Fire Protection District. Atkins has produced all the debris flow risk maps for Montecito since the 1/9 Debris Flow. Atkins utilizes inputs from a local watershed biologist, Santa Barbara County Public Works and Flood Control, peer-reviewed debris flow science and topographical data to model debris flow risk during short duration, extremely high intensity rainfall. With that information, Atkins conducts aerial and ground surveys, along with computer modeling, to create the Storm Impact Consideration Map. Emergency managers utilize the Storm Impact Consideration Map to determine appropriate protective actions measures to keep our community safe.

If you have any questions about the Storm Impact Consideration Map, please call 805-969-7762 or email info@montecitofire.com.