Crews have rushed to clear out basins designed to catch mud, rocks and other debris from tumbling into neighborhoods as damaging rains approach.

Thousands of people have been told to evacuate areas of Los Angeles Friday as California's most powerful winter storm so far this season threatens to flash flood land scarred by massive wildfires.

For the second time this year, Southern Californians are evacuating their homes as heavy rain threatens new destruction in places still recovering from last month’s devastating wildfires.