Recap: After the Flames: Strategies for Managing Post-Wildfire Flood and Debris Hazard Flows

In a recent webinar, Dr. Mark Strudley, Executive Director of the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, shared lessons from his work with Santa Cruz County Flood Control’s response to debris-flow risk following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire.

The CZU fire burned roughly 86,000 acres across California’s Central Coast, cutting through redwood forests that rarely experience fast-moving, high-intensity wildfire. While the most damaged areas drew early attention, Dr. Strudley explained that the greatest risks to residents and infrastructure emerged in lower-severity “dirty burn” zones, where partially burned vegetation and intact root systems made debris-flow behavior far more difficult to predict.

In the immediate aftermath, Santa Cruz County prioritized door-to-door, parcel-level assessments to identify which homes remained vulnerable. Dr. Strudley emphasized that this work required cross-departmental collaboration, underscoring the role of geomorphologists and hydrologists in interpreting local landscapes and geology to prioritize resident safety. To prepare for future storms, the county partnered with state and federal agencies to develop debris-flow susceptibility maps and rainfall thresholds - tying them directly to real-time rain gauges and existing evacuation zones. 

Dr. Strudley closed the webinar with a clear takeaway: after a wildfire, resident communication and safety must be the priority. Clear, risk-focused messaging helps communities understand debris-flow threats and take action when it matters most.

The presentation slides can be downloaded here, and the webinar recording is below:

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