is an unprecedented rainfall on any ground surface, much less a fire-burned watershed. reporter: all that water surging off the bare hills, funneled into montecito s dry creek beds. when you see the size of these boulders, it gives you a sense of the power that forces these giant rocks and these giant trees downstream. oprah winfrey surveying the damage to her property, too. so, there used to be a fence right here. that s my neighbor s house, devastated. reporter: the death toll now at least 17. it includes roy rohter, the founder of the st. augustine academy, swept away from his home. and matt gutman joins us live. matt, just incredible destruction. i know there are still evacuations in some parts tonight, there s also fear that the number of missing could go up. and you were telling us late today about the power outages, the gas outages and you re hearing it could be months before residents get running water again?