Los Angeles officials have issued a  mandatory evacuation order for about 83 residents in the northeast San Fernando Valley as a winter storm continues to cause havoc across Southern California.

The affected areas include Riverwood Ranch, Alpine Village, Zachaou Canyon, Haines Canyon and Blanchard Canyon, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

A shelter has been set up at Sunland Park, officials said.

Meanwhile, a Fire Department swift-water rescue team responded about 3:30 p.m. to a report of people missing in a rain-flooded foothill area near Big Tujunga Canyon Road on Oro Vista Avenue, the department said.

Earlier this afternoon, Red Cross officials arrived at La Canada High School to set up a shelter for residents under evacuation orders in nearby neighborhoods. Officials arrived at the high school to find the power knocked out by the storm.

Shelter manager Alex Mendoza said officials would decide this evening whether to move the shelters to another high school. Shortly before 4 p.m., no one had shown up at the shelter.

-- Robert J. Lopez and Ann M. Simmons in La Canada Flintridge

Photo: California Highway Patrol Commercial Officer Patrick O' Donnell inspects a big rig that crashed through the center divider while heading east on the 118 Freeway on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred east of Yosemite Drive about 2:30 p.m. as heavy rain moved through the