Emergency assessments of postfire debris-flow hazards for the 2009 La Brea, Jesusita, Guiberson, Morris, Sheep, Oak Glen, Pendleton, and Cottonwood fires in southern California

Cannon, Susan H.; Gartner, Joseph E.; Rupert, Michael G.; Michael, John A.

Abstract:

This report presents an emergency assessment of potential debris-flow hazards from basins burned by the 2009 La Brea and Jesusita fires in Santa Barbara County, the Guiberson fire in Ventura County, the Morris fire in Los Angeles County, the Sheep, Oak Glen, and Pendleton fires in San Bernardino County, and the Cottonwood fire in Riverside County, southern California. Statistical-empirical models developed to analyze postfire debris flows are used to estimate the probability and volume of debris-flows produced from drainage basins within each of the burned areas. Debris-flow probabilities and volumes are estimated as functions of different measures of basin burned extent, gradient, and material properties in response to both a 3-hour-duration, 2-year-recurrence thunderstorm and to a widespread, 12-hour-duration, 2-year-recurrence winter storm. This assessment provides critical information for issuing warnings, locating and designing mitigation measures, and planning evacuation timing and routes within the first two winters following the fire.

Genre:

USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

98668

Citation Author:

Cannon, Susan H.; Gartner, Joseph E.; Rupert, Michael G.; Michael, John A.

Citation Contributing Office:

Geologic Hazards Science Center

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Citation Language:

ENGLISH

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Citation LatN:

0351000

Citation LatS:

0330000

Citation LonE:

-1163000

Citation LonW:

-1200000

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Citation Phsyical Description:

iv, 31 p.

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Citation Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey

Citation Series:

Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

2010-1186

Citation Search Results Text:

Emergency assessments of postfire debris-flow hazards for the 2009 La Brea, Jesusita, Guiberson, Morris, Sheep, Oak Glen, Pendleton, and Cottonwood fires in southern California; 2010; OFR; 2010-1186; Cannon, Susan H.; Gartner, Joseph E.; Rupert, Michael G.; Michael, John A.