14 people rescued from flash flood in California

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say 14 people were rescued after their cars became stranded in a flash flood in a Southern California community during the third straight day of rain.

KABC-TV reports five vehicles got stuck shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday as several feet of mud and water roared over a rural road near Gilman Hot Springs in Riverside County.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Adrian Horta says he was able to drive his SUV alongside one car and pull a man and woman out through the driver's side window.

A swift water rescue crew rescued the remaining people.

FULL short story at link.



Preparing for the next round of storm, resident Edward Bikle, 46, helps put sandbags in front of an elderly resident's home in 100 block of W. Sierra Madre Avenue in Glendora on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. More rain is expected in the Southland today, with potential mudslides in area previously denuded by the Colby Fire. (AP Photo/San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Watchara Phomicinda)


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141204/us--california_storm-81bbe82520.html

[cosmicone]

1. Another reason we should all buy big humongous SUVs

[nichomachus]

2. Another reason you should never, ever drive through water covering a road -- ever.

1. You have no idea what's under the water or how swift the current is.

2. It doesn't take a whole lot of water to immobilize your car -- and sweep it away.

3. You have no idea how many people are breathtakingly stupid and will even drive around barriers to try to get through the water.

This happens all the time where I live. Because of the topography, we have a lot of flash floods. Police close the roads and put up barriers -- and idiots insist on driving around the barriers.

Last year, during one road closure, police were pulling over cars that tried to go through the water. Of 20 cars that they pulled over, 14 drivers had no driver's license.

[yuiyoshida]

3. The other night we had here in Nor Cal

One of the loudest Thunderstorms I can remember of late. It shook my windows, and the rain came down so hard. I wasn't scared, but it sure kept me awake for a while.