Storm cleanup continues in Palm Desert Country Club

The California Villas in Palm Desert Country Club was one of many residences in the area hit hard from the severe thunderstorms Thursday evening.

The Red Cross placed at least three families into hotels because of damage to their residence or an inability to gain access inside their home.

Massive trees were uprooted from the ground all around the surrounding neighborhoods, destroying carports, roofs, patio covers, and other property.

“You know, I think they’re stunned, number one, that this could occur so quickly and create so much damage,” said Michelle Caldwell, the Emergency Services Coordinator at City of Indio Fire Services.

Once the storms subsided, Riverside County emergency crews and the city of Palm Desert reacted swiftly. Cleanup crews started the process of picking up debris from the streets and sidewalks and residents have noticed the efforts.

“[I} was talking to one guy this morning cleaning up the tree next door, and he said they had gotten off work last night, had to come back to work, work until 3 a.m. and then had to be back at 5:30 this morning,” said Bob Gonia, a resident on New York Avenue. “And [workers] were as nice as could be, as patient as could be and the whole city crews were working very diligently and being very caring.”

“I’m also seeing an overall gratefulness from the community,” said Caldwell. “And I see that the City of Palm Desert is really reaching out to its citizens to make sure they’re doing the right thing taking care of their people.”

Other residents had estimated that 75 percent of the damage in the streets had been cleaned by Friday evening, however the street leading to the California Villas still remained closed for through traffic only.

As of Friday evening, Southern California Edison estimated that most of the 300 customers without power in the area will be fully restored by 8 a.m. on Saturday.