MONTECITO, Calif. (AP) — Southern California authorities say the number of people missing since debris-laden flash floods smashed through the community of Montecito is now five, down from as many as 43 a day earlier.
Santa Barbara County spokeswoman Amber Anderson released the latest number early Friday.
Anderson says the number dropped because people were located, but it could continue to fluctuate greatly.
She says some missing-person reports are rapidly cleared while others take a long time to resolve.
The number of confirmed fatalities remains at 17.
Anderson says the number of personnel searching ravaged neighborhoods has doubled over the past day to 1,250.