A fierce winter storm has hit Montecito in United States, the residential area of United Kingdom’s Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, on Monday, afternoon and they have all been ordered to evacuate.
According to Daily Mail, all the residents in Santa Barbara County, home to Montecito, were ordered to shelter in place as well.
The orders come as the state continues to see damage from aeries of atmospheric rivers and storms which have left 12 dead and many trapped in their homes, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
As of Monday morning, more than 137,000 customers in the Golden State are out of power as wind speeds upwards of 60 miles per hour have caused trees and powerlines to fall.
“We expect to see the worst of it still in front of us,” Newsom said as he asked President Joe Biden to declare an emergency for the state. Biden complied Sunday evening, granting the state access to emergency resources.
“We’re anticipating very intense weather coming in Monday and Tuesday morning,” Governor Newsom said Sunday during a press conference.
Along with Montecito, Toro Canyon, Sycamore Canyon and Padaro Lane were ordered to leave.
“Leave now, the official Santa Barbara County emergency website states.
All other Santa Barbara County residents are being told to stay where they are for the time being.
“SHELTER IN PLACE. Flooding, Santa Barbara County impact areas. Go to the innermost room or high ground. DO NOT attempt to leave. If already evacuated, remain out of the area,” a tweet from the Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Management reads.
The orders come five years to the day after 23 people in Montecito were killed in a mudslide, one journalist on Twitter pointed out.
This is the second evacuation order for the Southern California area in a week.
On Wednesday evening, an order was issued for the Alisal, Thomas, and Cave fire burn areas over mudslide concerns.
The area continues to be one of two Southern California counties expected to see the heaviest rainfall.
Harry and Meghan have lived in their $23 million home in the quiet seaside city since 2020 after stepping back from their royal duties in March of that year.
