NASA Images Show Montecito Before and After Deadly Wildfire, Storm
Satellite images from November and January show hillsides stripped of vegetation by the December Thomas fire and streams that overflowed during the January storm
By Jonathan Lloyd ••
Dramatic NASA imagery shows the California coastal town of Montecito and the surrounding area before and after the onslaught of deadly back-to-back disasters.
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The image on the left shows the region in November 2017, about one month before the deadly Thomas fire broke out in Ventura County and spread north into Santa Barbara County. The fire became the largest on record in California at nearly 282,000 acres.
The image on the right shows Montecito on Jan. 10, two days after a strong winter storm slammed Southern California, triggering floods and mudflows. The mountains above the coastal enclave appear darker, stripped of vegetation that would normally absorb help soil absorb rain.
Fire-charred areas appear brown, unburned areas of vegetation are green.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A Santa Barbara County firefighter checks a drainage culvert Thursday Jan. 18, 2018 on Buena Vista Creek near Park Lane in Montecito.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Firefighters inspect a bridge Jan. 16, 2018 at a creek blocked with debris from the January mudflow in Montecito.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Boulders were scattered throughout the town following the Jan. 9, 2018 mudflow in Montecito. Workers break up a boulder Jan. 14, 2018.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Capt. John Pepper, of the Fresno Fire Department, searches a property off East Valley Road Jan. 13, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard, NBC4
A stuffed toy is found on Olive Mill Road in the debris of the Montecito mudflow Friday Jan. 12, 2018.
Getty Images
Workers clear mud from the parking garage at the Montecito Inn following a mudslide on January 12, 2018 in Montecito, California.
Getty Images
An urban search and rescue team member walks by a home that was destroyed by a mudslide on January 11, 2018 in Montecito, California.
Toni Guinyard, NBC4
A look at the damage and debris of the Montecito mudflow Friday Jan. 12, 2018.
Toni Guinyard, NBC4
A law enforcement vehicle is seen on Olive Mill Road Friday Jan. 12, 2018 in Montecito.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Mud flowed into the chapel at Montecito's La Casa De Maria. This photo was taken Thursday Jan. 11, 2018.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
A fire truck passes a home surrounded by mud Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Mike Eliason, Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Search teams work through debris Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
Two SUVs are swamped by mud Wednesday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A house is surrounded by mud and toppled trees Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
Front-end loaders remove mud from a street Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
Trees and other debris are scattered in the streets Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A bicycle was among the items left behind in the mud Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
Mud lines a street Thursday Jan. 11, 2018 in Montecito.
KNBC-TV
A view from above the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
A view of the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
NBC Connecticut
A view from above the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
A view from above the mudslide zone in Montecito Wednesday Jan. 10, 2018.
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The map reveals some of the area's rugged topography, such as steep hillsides and streams that overflowed into nearby communities, trapping residents and burying homes and cars in mud. The January image shows mud and debris along the streams and south of the burn area.
As of Thursday, 17 people had died and eight more were missing, according to fire officials. Hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed.
