This just goes to show you that nature doesn’t discriminate.
The residents of Montecito have been devastated with fire over the last few weeks, and now, a deadly mudslide has hit the posh star-studded area of Cali.
The death toll for the mudslide has reached 16 so far and there are several people still unaccounted for.
It was only days ago that the raging Thomas Fire was threatening homes in the swanky town.
On January 4th, Winfrey posted on Twitter that she was grateful to have a home to return to after she had evacuated due to the smoke around her home.
1st day back at home. Still smelling smoke.But grateful to have a home to come to and forever grateful to firefighters. #ThomasFire
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) January 4, 2018
And now, her home has been damaged by the mudslide caused by a flash flood following the dry conditions that feulled the Thomas Fire. The wildfire destroyed so much vegetatoin in the hills above the town that there was little to stop the mud and boulders from sliding down onto Montecito.
Oprah Winfrey and tennis legend Jimmy Connors are among the thousands who have been affected by flash flooding and mudslides in southern California that have already left 16 people dead.
Multiple bodies were found during the rescue operations on Tuesday in Montecito, 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, after downpours sent mud and boulders roaring down hills that were stripped of vegetation by a gigantic wildfire that raged in the state in December.
Most deaths were believed to have occurred in Montecito, a wealthy enclave of about 9,000 people northwest of Los Angeles that is home to such celebrities as Winfrey, Rob Lowe and Ellen DeGeneres. One person was also killed in a weather-related fatality in Los Angeles County.
Mudslides slammed into homes, covered highways and swept away vehicles early on Tuesday when more than a half-inch (1.5cm) of rain fell in five minutes, a rate that far exceeds the normal flash flood threshold.
There was some damage to the property and Winfrey posted a series of videos on Instagram of the rain, the depth of the mud, a nearby gas fire, and a rescue helicopter flying overhead.
Winfrey’s home survived the storms, but she shared a number of videos on Instagram showing the knee-deep mud in her yard, a gas fire nearby and helicopters rescuing her neighbors.
‘What a day!’ she said on the social media site as she filmed from her $50million esate in Montecito. ‘Praying for our community again in Santa Barbara.
‘Woke up to this blazing gas fire. then swipe left to see how deep the mud is in my backyard. Helicopters rescuing my neighbors. Looking for missing persons.’
Source: Daily Mail
Check out Oprah’s videos that she posted on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdv_QbqghTE/?hl=en&taken-by=oprah
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdxqgGxgO7m/?hl=en&taken-by=oprah
Will the Cali leftist celebs still tell people to stop with the ‘thoughts and prayers’ — like they did after the Texas Church Massacre — now that it’s affecting them?
Because even if they do, ignore them.
Montecito needs thoughts, prayers, and assistance.
