Following September’s flash flood that inundated homes with up to two feet of mud in South Joshua Tree, residents begged the county for help. After touring the devastated area, Supervisor James Ramos told his staff to be creative in finding help for those who needed it. Field Representative Mike Lipsitz called Robin Schlosser at Reach Out Morongo Basin, who in turn contacted Chaplain Bill Broderick at the Combat Center. And then more than two dozen Marines and sailors showed up to help dig out one woman’s home. Managing editor Tami Roleff has the rest of the story…
Flood victim Joan Christensen stared in disbelief as more than two dozen Marines and sailors shoveled, hauled, swept and dumped tons of mud out of her Joshua Tree home October 18 in the 60900 block of Sandalwood Drive. A month earlier, a flash flood in the hills south of Joshua Tree sent a torrent of water, mud, and gravel roaring through residential neighborhoods south of Friendly Hills Elementary School. Christensen’s home, garage, and car were inundated with one to two feet of mud. The clean up at Christensen’s property would have been impossible without the volunteers from the Third Battalion, 7th and Third Battalion 11th Marines, and the First Tank Battalion, who answered the call. Schlosser said, “The Base has come through every time we’ve has asked for their help. Their eagerness to support the community the way they do says a lot about the character of those serving aboard the Base.” Chaplain Bill Broderick of the Combat Center says that volunteers from the base are eager to join community projects where they can be of service. As for Christensen, she was extremely grateful for the help. “Thank you everyone for helping me out of an impossible situation. Especially, thank you so much for putting me at ease, extending courtesy and respect at all times, and giving words of encouragement along the way.”
