Debris flows in California have thrown a new angle of complication to the long drawn and painful process of dealing with wildfires. The lack of a comprehensive solution is expected to expose the state to a wide range of damages and hazards.
The situation is a little trickier than meets the eye. Wildfires that erupt across the state in autumn scorch the terrain. The extreme heat further renders the soil incapable of retaining moisture. Rains during the winter are washed away down the slope, carrying with it loose debris, soil and even trees. Debris flows scrape away the upper soil along its course and gathers in mass on it way downhill.
Debris flows cover long stretches of land – clogging roadways and causing serious damage to infrastructure and establishments. And the effects persist for years on end. Santa Barbara and Southern California are two such examples.
Such new emerging complications are forcing Californian response teams to reevaluate existing strategies and make room for more incisive warning protocols and exhaustive emergency planning measures.