San Bernardino police officers rescued a mom and her kids who were nearly swept away during a raging flash flood in California on September 12, according to FOX Weather.
According to the SoCal News Outlet, the mother had called police about an unrelated problem on Monday afternoon as torrential rains hammered down in southern California from the remnants of Tropical Storm Kay. An impromptu river roared down the street as the family headed back to their vehicle, nearly washing them away.
Dashcam footage from San Bernardino Police showed three officers rescuing the mom who had lost her balance while trying to cross the rapids. Officers then assisted her two kids and other stranded people on the other side of the water.
No reported injuries in San Bernardino flash flood
Fortunately, tragedy was avoided as there were no reported injuries in the flash flood. San Bernardino's Police Chief Darren L. Goodman posted a message on the social media platform Twitter that their officers do not encounter swift-water floods often. However, that did not stop them from jumping into action and saving lives.
Flash flooding caused several issues this week across the Desert Southwest. One struck farther out in San Bernardino County, rolling through the Forest Falls area and causing severe damage. One person went missing because of the flood, with over 120 search-and-rescue personnel combing the area to look for the resident.
Dozens were also trapped in nearby Los Angeles County after a mudslide, and debris flow struck Lake Hughes. According to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials, they have rescued approximately 50 people there. They were taken to a nearby county fire station to meet with the American Red Cross.
According to ABC 7, massive mud flows also overwhelmed the Yucaipa area. Residents there are now on a long road to recovery after flash flooding sent lots of mud into their homes, destroying structures and businesses.
Oak Glen residents reeling after mudflows hit their area
Tropical Storm Kay pushed heavy bands of moisture into the area, with desert and mountain communities, in particular, seeing the heaviest rainfall amounts. Residents in Oak Glen, located east of Yucaipa, spent the entire Tuesday cleaning up the massive mess left behind by the storm. Many roads remain blocked with mud in Oak Glen while electricity is still out for many homes in the area.
Roger Seheult said in an interview that he was on his way to pick up his daughters from school when a massive pool of mud came rushing toward not only him but also the Oak Glen Steakhouse and Saloon.
Seheult said that it was wave after wave of mud and debris coming down from the flash flood. The owner of Oak Glen Steakhouse said the business is now closed indefinitely as it has been badly damaged. A GoFundMe page has been created to help the steakhouse.
