OAK GLEN, Calif. (AP) — Mudslides and debris flows knocked down trees, plowed into homes and trapped drivers for 10 hours after several Southern California communities were hit by heavy rain, authorities said.
No one was hurt, and authorities were able to get everyone out safely. Christopher Prater, a public information officer for San Bernardino County Fire, reported that no one is missing.
Intense rains battered the region for over an hour on Thursday afternoon as remnants of Tropical Storm Mario reached the mountainous areas, according to the National Weather Service.
The mudslides affected small mountain communities including Forest Falls, Oak Glen, and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County, located just east of Los Angeles. The county’s fire protection district reported that authorities rescued 10 people trapped in at least six vehicles on state Route 38 near Jenks Lake, close to the San Bernardino National Forest.
Kael Steel, one of the stranded individuals, recounted driving down from Big Bear when the rain began. He described the chaotic scene as suddenly seeing rocks and debris cascading down the mountain. Cars were turning around telling me the road was blocked, he said. After heading back a few times, he realized the road he had crossed moments earlier was completely gone.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed the route remained closed as of Friday morning, with damage assessment teams scheduled to evaluate the areas impacted by the slides. Officials were still determining the extent of the damage and number of homes affected.
Prater acknowledged that the community has been significantly impacted, adding, How bad, we don’t know yet. Forest Falls was hit hard by mudslides three years ago after a wildfire left burn scars that can contribute to such disasters.
On Thursday alone, the area received 1.5 inches of rain in one hour, followed by another half inch, which is considerably higher than usual for Southern California where summer thunderstorms generally provide about a half inch of rain during that time.
Kyle Wheeler, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, explained that they experienced nearly two inches of rain in just two hours, noting the unfortunate timing and location for such extreme weather systems.
