Ventura County public safety officials say that the seaside community of La Conchita remains under a year-round evacuation warning due to the threat of mudslides and landslides.
County officials consider it a geologic hazard area, and can't accurately predict when a hillside failure might occur.
Heavy rainfall over the recent holiday season triggered a threshold set by geologists, prompting a warning that a slide could occur. The county issued a voluntary evacuation advisory for the community.
As of January 20, rainfall totals in La Conchita fell below historical event-trigger thresholds. But, the hillside remains saturated, and officials warn a sudden and potentially catastrophic failure could at any time. In issuing the year-round evacuation warning, officials say evacuation alerts may not always provide sufficient advance notice.
In 2005, a pair of slides destroyed or damaged a dozen homes in the community. Then, in 2010, a massive slide killed 10 people, injured 14, and destroyed or damaged around 30 homes.
La Conchita has about 300 residents.
