Mountain communities prepare for possible flooding, debris flow from major storm
Rain is expected to hit the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas early Thursday. Some areas near where the Holy Fire burned are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Riverside County officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for the following zones: Amorose, Alberhill, Glen Ivy A, Glen Eden, Grace, Horsethief A, Laguna A, Matri, McVicker A, Rice and Withrow A.
You can check the status of your area here or call (951) 940-6985. You can also sign-up for emergency text alerts here.
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KESQ & CBS Local 2’s Lauren Coronado speaks with Riverside County Cal Fire Chief Dan Olson and Sheriff’s Department Deputy Jeremy Parsons about how they are preparing mountain communities for the storm.
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“You know, it always is a surprise. The first snow or rain we get every year. I feel like it’s always a surprise and it is early,” said an Idyllwild business owner, Kim Smith. She says she’s most concerned for the communities near Mountain Center, where the Cranston fire blackened the community.
“They’re four miles below us though and I think they have already seen some damage from the last rains,” Smith said.
Sandy Brunet, of Mountain Center, says she’s been preparing for rain storms for months.
“We built trenches and we’ve sand bagged around it, but still when it comes and it’s that fast and it’s that high, it’s going to go over the top of it, so we just double check and move everything up,” Brunet said.
Law enforcement is encouraging others to be ready for the rain. Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies were going door-to-door warning people about the dangers associated with rainfall.
“Now is the time to prepare. Pack your belongings, anything you want to take. We encourage, if you do leave this area, the Apple Canyon, Hurkey Creek, Lake Hemet area, to travel east on highway 74 instead of west,” said Deputy Jeremy Parsons of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
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