The Mucky Aftermath

Residents in the foothills above the Los Angeles National Forest whose homes survived the fire last month are now girding for possible mudslides. A big Pacific storm is moving toward Southern California. The rainfall might help green things up and mitigate the drought, but it will almost certainly cause slides in some fire areas.

Some residents have spent thousands of dollars preparing berms, fences and other blockades they hope will keep the mud and debris from flowing into their houses. And some say they'll evacuate rather than chance being overcome by a lava of mud.

Scientists from the US Geological Survey have been sampling the soil across the 160,000 acres that were burned. They say heat and gas from the fire permeates the soil. That's formed what they describe as a waxy layer, just below the surface. That waxy layer can prevent water from soaking into the ground. Instead, it rolls down slopes, carrying mud, rock, trees and other debris along with it.

Residents near fire-burned areas can get advice and updates at a Web site established by LA County's Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort. There's also a special telephone number: 800-214-4020.

If you have pictures of the preparation going on before the storm, or of its aftermath, we invite you to share them, by posting your images to the SoCal Connected Flickr stream.