Mandatory Evacuations Ordered: Modjeska, Silverado, Williams

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Residents in the Bond Fire Burn Scar, including Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon and Modjeska Canyon were told to evacuate Thursday nightdue to flash flooding and heavy rains overnight.

A Flash Flood Watch was issued at 7 p.m. Thursday. for the whole of the Bond fire burn scar, until noon Friday, Dec. 24.

The mandatory evacuation order will be in place through the Flash Flood Watch.

Evacuation Areas

• Silverado Canyon - Evacuation Order (Mandatory – as of December 23, 2021 at 8 p.m.)
• Williams Canyon - Evacuation Warning (Mandatory – as of December 23, 2021 at 8 p.m.)
• Modjeska Canyon - Evacuation Warning (Mandatory – as of December 23, 2021 at 8 p.m.)

Hard Road Closures

• Hard road closures will be in place at canyon entrances beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday, December 23, 2021.

Sheltering

Residents are encouraged to leave early and plan for alternate shelter with friends, family or at a local hotel outside of the mandatory evacuation area.
The County of Orange Social Services Agency opened a Care and Reception Center at 3 p.m. at the Lake Forest Sports Park – 28000 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Directions may be found here: https://www.lakeforestca.gov/722/Address-Directions.

The American Red Cross will open an overnight, congregate, dormitory-style shelter at the Lake Forest Sports Park location starting at 7 p.m.

NOTE: Evacuating residents who have COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms are asked to call 714-628-7085 for further screening before arrival at the shelter.

Pet Evacuations:

Household pets will not be accepted by the shelter, but OC Animal Care is open to house dogs, cats and small pets and has accommodations for large animals at the OC Fair and Events Center. For information about other large animal housing arrangements, please call OC Animal Care at 714-935-6848 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 714-259-1122 during after-hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Large Animal Evacuations:

For those under mandatory evacuation order with large animals, OC Fair and Events Center located at 88 Fair Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 will open at 8 p.m. with uncovered temporary stalls. Please call 714-708-1588 to ensure your animals can be accommodated. For large animal sheltering at the OC Fair and Events Center, enter at Gate 5 off Arlington Drive. The daily care, as well as feed, medications and other necessary supplies, will be the responsibility of the animal owner.

Effective Thursday, December 23, 2021, at 8 p.m. an Evacuation Order (Mandatory) will be issued for Silverado Canyon, Williams Canyon and Modjeska in the Bond Fire burn area due to possible debris flows along or near the burn scar. https://t.co/0A2o7ab3yY #OCCanyonFlood pic.twitter.com/u99uN5xnze
— County of Orange (@OCGovCA) December 24, 2021

Residents were warned to leave in advance of the storm, encouraged to seek shelter with friends, family, or at a local hotel outside of the evacuation zone.

Thank you, @OCSheriff for keeping our Canyons safe. #OCCanyonFlood https://t.co/GO101OsPT0
— County of Orange (@OCGovCA) December 24, 2021

Over 10,000 sandbags and other erosion control measures were distributed by OC Public Works. One week ago, Orange County's canyon residents were inundated with rain, flooding and mudslides.

Many were trapped inside their homes, rescued by Orange County Fire Authority Firefighters.