When Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle bought a sprawling Montecito estate for nearly $15 million in 2020, they didn’t have that in mind.
An order issued Monday by the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management urged all residents of the tony seaside town to “go now.” Heavy rains have caused flooding in the area and strong winds have thrown debris onto the streets.
Southern California faces another winter storm with torrential rains, damaging winds and risks of flooding, mud and debris
Those who choose not to evacuate should be ready “to support themselves and your household for several days,” the order said, as residents “may not be able to leave the area and rescue workers may not be able to access yours.” B. have property in the country in the event of road damage, flooding or mudslides.”
It was unclear if anyone at the royal couple’s home had been evacuated – or if Harry, Meghan or their children Archie and Lilibet were actually at the site. Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This was the biggest storm to hit the area since the couple bought the home in the summer of 2020. The 7 acre property includes a 14,500 square foot main house and a two bedroom guest house as well as a tea house and tennis court and pool.
A host of other celebrities live in Montecito, where the perks of living in a scenic coastal enclave come with risks associated with the weather.
Five years ago today, a storm triggered mudslides that killed 23 people and destroyed more than 100 homes in Montecito.
Oprah Winfrey, another Montecito homeowner, posted about the devastation on Instagram at the time.
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