Managing editor Tami Roleff joins us in part one of a two-part report about flash flooding and swift water rescues…
As this week’s flash flooding in Joshua Tree demonstrated, fast-moving water can be extremely dangerous in the desert. “It does not take very much moving water at all, as little as 12 inches, to move a vehicle.” County Fire Engineer and Public Information Officer Jeff Allen said driving through water is extremely risky, and he urges motorists to stay safe. “The most important thing to do is to turn around and don’t drive through the water.”
Allen has advice for those who do drive through water and get stuck. “What happens here is the water recedes out here so fast. A lot of these swift water rescues, the best thing to do is you tell these people to shelter in place.” But staying where you are has its own dangers as well; if a surge of water comes down from the hills—as it did Tuesday afternoon, with deadly results—you and your car could be swept away. Many people who get stuck while trying to drive through a flooded road often call the fire department for help. Tomorrow, in part two, we’ll hear more from Engineer Allen about how swift water rescuers respond to these calls for help.
