Despite famously being a warm, dry state forever plagued by drought, California is also prone to flooding. January 2023 was especially bad for the state, with Governor Gavin Newsome and President Joe Biden going as far as to declare a state of emergency. San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Barbara were the worst affected, all getting at least 12 inches of rainwater. Santa Barbara County also experienced mass evacuations due to the severity of the flooding.
Flooding is especially bad in low-lying areas, such as Santa Barbara County. The city sits just 49 feet above sea level and is often one of the worst affected places by flooding. This is exacerbated by the nearby San Ysidro Creek. Notable incidents include this year's flooding forcing the evacuation of several celebrities and a deadly mudslide in 2018. However, flooding is causing tension amongst some members of the affluent Montecito neighborhood.
Oprah's Neighbors Worry About Flood Wall Ramifications
Montecito sits just over five miles east of Santa Barbara. Once a haven of banditry, it became a haven for the wealthy at the turn of the 20th Century. It is now best known as being the county's celebrity town, with many familiar faces making Montecito their home. Ellen famously did some of her pandemic shows from her home in Montecito. Another of these famous faces is Oprah, who moved to her "Promised Land" estate in 2001. However, Oprah's less famous neighbors are beginning to raise concerns after a boulder wall was installed on her property.
The problem, her neighbors claim, is that the wall protects Oprah's estate from future flooding...by diverting the water on their property. It is unclear if Oprah ordered the wall's installation. However, Jimenez Nursery used her address on the necessary Army Corps of Engineers permit request. Additionally, there are concerns about the wall itself. Some have voiced fears that the wall may not actually withstand floodwaters like the ones seen earlier this year. This would not only void the purpose of the wall but potentially cause greater damage if the boulders were washed away. It's unclear if this will stay at simple neighbor complaints, or if further action will be taken.
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