LOS ANGELES,CA-Montecito is gradually digging out of the terrible mudslides of January 9, but the toll, both physical and emotional, has been very heavy for the community. The Santa Barbara Temple of Vedanta Society was spared flooding and mudslides; it is fortunately situated on a plateau above mudslide routes. But areas in the immediate surroundings have been devastated. Currently, access is open only to residents with ID,
and emergency personel. The temple is operating with a bare skeleton crew, as the area is still under mandatory evacuation orders. The crew has had to face loss of electric power, and a recent three-day loss of gas and heat. But most challenging is that there is still no running water. The only water available is bottled water. Cooking, bathing, laundry, flushing toilets—all these activities have been curtailed and re-invented with minimum water usage.
The crew is maintaining the daily worship in the temple and shrine, but there is no public access at all.
The crew is maintaining the daily worship in the temple and shrine, but there is no public access at all.