It can be a nerve wracking sight, and a scary sound. San Ysidro Creek, and Montecito Creek were raging Monday night, as the storm dumped more than 17 inches of rain in the mountains above the community.
They were among the creeks which became clogged with debris in 2018, leading to the debris flow which killed 23 people. But, this time improved creeks beds, debris basins, and even steel nets kept the creeks clear, and flowing.
Some Montecito residents, like Maureen Luton, said it was a bit unnerving. "I was very nervous. We've been here for about 12 years, and we've never seen it rain like this before," said Luton. "Now's the sun's out, and all is good."
Don Mayer took the storm in his stride. Despite the heavy rainfall, he wasn't worried. "Not this time around...maybe five years ago...but this time around...we're used to disasters." Mayer said we actually need the water.
Jonathan Warner admits he wasn’t fazed by this storm. He was out jogging Tuesday morning. "We went though the whole thing five years ago," he said.
But, Warner admits all the media coverage led to his wife becoming worried. "All our friends are calling and texting us, and saying 'Montecito evacuated', and we're just watching TV. My wife follows all that, and it had her worried."
It was a different kind of story for the thousands of people who found themselves unexpectedly trapped in the Santa Barbara area by the storm, with northbound and south highways closed, and even the airport and the rail line and impacted.
Dave Grier and his wife Pam say the last few weeks of storms put a dent in their vacation plans in the region. The Glendora couple found themselves stuck in Santa Barbara by the road closures.
They stayed in Pismo Beach a few weeks ago, and got washed out. The same thing happened in Solvang a few days ago. As they were preparing to drive home, they were stranded when the big storm trapped them in the Santa Barbara area.
Still, they didn't expect to find themselves in a shopping center parking lot eating sandwiches from a supermarket, waiting for the highway to reopen.
But, the Griers say even with their rainouts, they'll be back to the Tri-Counties... but, maybe not for a little while. The couple finally made it home Tuesday night, after Highway 101 reopened.
