Victorville Residents Mopping Up After Flash Floods, More Thunderstorms On The Way
VICTORVILLE (CBSLA.com) — Wild weather in Victorville Tuesday night caused flash flooding and power outages.
Thunderstorms sent a deluge of water into the area, destroying homes and streets.
"Even the sand bags didn't stop the rain from going into my house. We had at least two feet of water inside the house," homeowner Angelica Romero told CBS2/KCAL9's Jasmine Viel.
The storm knocked out power to 11,000 residents, according to officials.
Approximately 2,000 customers were still without power at 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Some areas saw up to four feet of water and motorists became trapped in their vehicles.
Residents on a low-lying street suffered the most damage.
"I've talked to the city time and time again," Romero's neighbor, Leticia Diaz, said. "They keep promising they're going to do something. Nothing ever happens."
Victorville Mayor Gloria Garcia told Viel, "They really need to engineer this area where they can actually build the wash...Something needs to be done so the water doesn't run freely through the homes."
The mayor once lived on that street and plans to investigate why the city hasn't done more in the past to prevent flash flood damage.
"They need drainage here. It's a major problem," another woman said of the area.
A hiker died in a flash flood near Big Bear Lake, according to the victim's girlfriend. She said they tried to cross the waist-deep, fast-moving water when he was swept away. Rescuers found the 29-year-old man's body about a mile away in the Mill Creek Wash.
Several vehicles also became trapped as water pooled in streets. CalTrans warns that it only takes about four inches of fast-moving water to sweep away a vehicle.
Frustrated residents agree it was the worst storm the area has seen in years.
Thunderstorms are expected to return Wednesday afternoon and residents say they don't know how much more they can take.
