Jessie McKnight has lived in Big Sur for over a decade and says the community is always prepared for tough situations.But this time she says, it’s different.
"We're all pretty used to these closures. And for some reason, this time, I feel like the community has really boiled over," McKnight said.
There are three landslides that are causing the closures, which start just north of the Big Creek Bridge and continue until a mile south of Ragged Point. The landslides are near Paul's Slide, Mill Creek, and Polar Star.
Caltrans is advising everyone within the closures to stay off the highway, even where it’s clear of debris. McKnight says many residents feel those restrictions are too harsh.
“There's a lot of frustration with locals right now because in our heads, we're seeing that the road is pretty clear, and folks are driving it," McKnight said. "But there's still this closure in place.”
But Caltrans spokesperson Kevin Drabinski says even if the highway looks clear, that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
“It's really difficult when you see that a roadway appears that you could take a vehicle on it," Drabinski said. "To not consider both what's below the roadway, if that's undermined, or to consider that there's a slide that is ready to go at any moment above you."
The closures have already isolated residents for nearly two weeks, with some growing desperate for supplies like food, medicine, and fuel.
This week, Monterey County began flying essentials to the area by helicopter. Caltrans expects the isolation to continue for at least another three weeks.