[Update: Jan. 15, 5:53 p.m.]: The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has canceled classes for Wednesday, Jan. 16. This marks the second day in a row Malibu schools will remain closed due to inclement weather.
The schools include Point Dume Marine Science School, Juan Cabrillo Elementary School, Webster Elementary School and Malibu Middle and High School.
[Update: Jan. 15, 9:40 a.m.]: Two Red Cross shelters are currently available to evacuating residents, as announced by the city.
The locations are as follows:
*South Gym at Santa Monica High School (601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica)
*Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center (27040 Malibu Hills Road, Agoura)
[Update: Jan. 15, 7:47 a.m.]: Concerning animals of all sizes, the City of Malibu announced evacuated residents could take them to the following locations:
*Small animals—Agoura Animal Care Center (29525 Agoura Road)
*Small animals—Malibu City Hall PRIOR to 9 a.m. (23825 Stuart Ranch Road)
*Small animals (must be in crates/cages)—Red Cross Shelter at the South Gym at Santa Monica High School AFTER 9 a.m. (601 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica)
*Large animals—Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills)
*Large animals—Hansen Dam (11127 Orcas Ave., Sylmar)
For more information, call the City of Malibu at 310.456.2489.
[Update: Jan. 14, 8:59 p.m.]: All Malibu schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 15, due to mudslide danger. The announcement was made by Malibu Mayor Jefferson “Zuma Jay” Wagner during the Jan. 14 City Council meeting.
The notice was handed to him during the meeting—previously, the schools were slated to be open. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District confirmed the news on social media.
A mandatory evacuation will begin Tuesday, Jan. 15, at 8 a.m. for certain areas burned by the Woolsey Fire, according to information from Woolsey Fire Unified Command.
Evacuation areas were chosen due to their “high risk for potential mud and debris flow,” and location near steep slopes or at the base of drainage areas.
Properties in the following areas will be under evacuation order:
*Corral Canyon / El Nido
*Escondido / Old Chimney
*Escondido Drive / Latigo Canyon
*Malibu West / Trancas Canyon
*Malibou Lake
*All of Ramirez Canyon Road and adjacent streets
*Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park & Restaurant
LA County Sheriff’s Department personnel will be on site notifying residents Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Malibu Middle and High schools were not scheduled to be closed or evacuated on Tuesday, according to Malibu City Manager Reve Feldman, though conditions could change. Closure notices would come from the school district.
At a Jan. 14 City Council meeting, Feldman cautioned residents: “You cannot escape mudflow. You need to think this through. Please. Think this through and protect your family.”
The mandatory evacuation orders come one year after a devastating Jan. 9, 2018, mudslide occurred overnight in nearby Montecito, Calif., leaving 21 people dead. That slide occurred in the Thomas Fire burn area in Santa Barbara County.
Similar to fire evacuations, sheriff’s deputies will monitor evacuated neighborhoods for potential looters.
For more information about the evacuation order and rain safety, visit lacounty.gov/LARain.
The National Weather Service estimates moderate to heavy rain—anywhere between two to four inches—will fall in Southern California throughout the week. A flash flood watch advisory was issued for the Woolsey and Hill Fire burn area for Tuesday, Jan. 15.
This story was updated to include information about area schools.
