An afternoon round of monsoon driven thunderstorm brought severe flooding to the Twentynine Palms area yesterday. A county swift-water rescue team was called out to perform a rescue in Wonder Valley last night. County Fire Battalion Chief Donnie Viloria said a couple was driving home in Wonder Valley when they turned north onto a dirt road. Viloria said the road was dry when they turned onto the road but when they had traveled about two miles, an 8-inch wall of water came down the road and overtook their Mustang about 9:15 p.m. Viloria said the water came about half way up the door and stalled out their car. The couple called for help and firefighters were dispatched. By the time help arrived, the rushing water had receded, but the car was in a low spot, surrounded by water, and was inoperable. Firefighters walked the couple out. There were no injuries.
Twentynine Palms was the hardest hit by the monsoon at about 3 p.m. when a heavy deluge quickly filled the main wash through the city with deep torrents of swirling run-off. The City closed the wash gates closing Split Rock, Tamarisk, and Ocotillo Avenues. Other roads closed were Bullion Mountain road, Baghdad Highway and El Rey Avenue.
A video posted on the City of Twentynine Palms Facebook page shows a few people wading on the edge of the wash at Split Rock with raging water. Viloria reminds residents that water is very unforgiving and that neither people nor vehicles can stand up to rushing water of that force, and that the opportunity for drowning is very high.
There were also sporadic power outages throughout the Morongo Basin, from Twentynine Palms to Morongo Valley. Most of the downtown areas of Twentynine Palms and Morongo Valley lost power, causing closures of many businesses. The power outage caused the postponement of an active shooter drill aboard the Twentynine Palms Marine Base, as well as other activities on base. The City’s Movie in the Park event was cancelled as well.
Since Monday 2.21 inches of rain have been recorded in Twentynine Palms.
Caltrans crews were out cleaning up mud and debris from State route 62
This morning all roads are open and most of the power has been restored.
