The January floods had only a moderate impact on Santa Barbara County, but
March rainfalls exceeded levels in recorded history. Santa Barbara City Fire Department
swiftwater instructor Guy Smith’s training efforts paid off as personnel responded to
dozens of calls for assistance in Santa Barbara.
Despite their efforts, one man, a retired federal judge, died when he was swept
from his Sycamore Canyon home. His wife survived by clinging to a light fixture in the
home. Eighteen-year-old Rosa Jiminez disappeared after trying to cross a flooded creek
in her car. Unlike drivers in two similar vehicle incidents, she tried to escape by
swimming away from her trapped car.
In Lompoc, rescuers used inflatable rafts and ropes to rescue two persons from
their vehicle when it was washed away in the Santa Ynez River.
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