OAK GLEN, Calif. — 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 rescue those stranded. Christopher Prater, a public information officer for San Bernardino County Fire, confirmed there were no reports of missing persons.
Intense rains struck the community for more than an hour Thursday afternoon as the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario reached the mountainous region, according to the National Weather Service.
The mudslides primarily affected the mountain communities of Forest Falls, Oak Glen, and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County, just east of Los Angeles. Rescue teams evacuated 10 people who were stranded in six vehicles on state Route 38 near Jenks Lake.
Kael Steel, a driver affected by the storm, described seeing rocks and debris come crashing down the mountain while attempting to navigate the increasingly treacherous terrain.
As the rain continued, road conditions became dangerous. Steel recounted how he encountered multiple obstacles when trying to escape the area. There’s no road there anymore, he lamented.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the route remains closed as damage assessments continue. Officials are working to determine the extent of the damage and how many homes are affected.
Prater remarked on the significant impact to the community and stated, How bad, we don’t know yet. The area has previously suffered from severe mudslides and wildfires, which have made it more susceptible to flooding.
The recent storm resulted in nearly two inches of rain falling within two hours, far exceeding the typical summer thunderstorm rates of half an inch per hour. Meteorologist Kyle Wheeler emphasized the rarity and severity of such rainfall in the drought-prone region.
