Residents are sandbagging around their homes in an area of Southern California that was left barren by recent wildfires.

Without the grass and brush that normally anchors the soil, authorities are afraid an approaching storm could bring mudslides.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered state agencies to prepare to help local aid organizations in case of disaster.

Santa Barbara County has issued an evacuation order for burned areas at risk.

Forecasters say a low-pressure area about 700 miles off the coast could bring an inch of rain to Southern California through Thanksgiving, with up to 4 inches in the mountains.

A series of wildfires damaged or destroyed about 1,000 homes this month in five counties. They burned an area totaling about 65 square miles.

October wildfires burned dozens more homes, and scorched more than 35 square miles.

Residents living below burn zones in Santa Barbara County are being warned to prepare to leave. Voluntary evacuations are in effect for three burned areas of Yorba Linda, in Orange County.