Heavy rain prompts evacuations, rescues
Updated: 8:24 a.m.
Heavy rains swept across Orange County overnight, pounding hillsides and flooding roadways already saturated with several days of unrelenting storms — and prompting evacuations.
Much of downtown Laguna Beach was under several feet of water early Wednesday, prompting police to close streets leading into to that area and to advise workers in the business district to stay home.Laguna Canyon Road is closed from Main Beach to the 73 Toll Road and most downtown streets are closed.
Laguna Beach Police called in several of their officers who were scheduled to be off Wednesday morning, trying to get every hand in to help deal with severe flooding and mudslides throughout the city.
"Downtown is completely under water. It's a flowing river," Sgt. Joe Torres said.
Police and fire officials from Laguna Beach have conducted between 20 to 25 rescues from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., said Lt. Jason Kravetz. Several residents have been trapped inside their cars, and some residents have had to be removed from their homes and water and mud moved in.
Officials have dispatched a swift water rescue team that has been moving through the city by boat – the only way to access several areas.
"The canyon is underwater and flooding to the beach," Kravetz said.
The rising waters have also caused emergency personnel to conduct several rescues throughout the county, including a search for someone in a water channel in Irvine near Jamboree Road and the I-5, authorities said.
Authorities at 8 a.m. activated the county's Emergency Operations Center, to answer questions and offer information to residents. The number for the public hotline is 714-628-7085.
Metrolink train tracks between Oceanside and San Juan Capistrano were closed at about 6 a.m. because of a landslide, according to Metrolink's official Twitter account.
Trains on the Orange County line were operating 50 to 70 minutes behind schedule this morning, Metrolink officials said.
EVACUATIONS
In Modjeska and Silverado Canyons, several residents are being asked to leave their homes as mud and debris continues to slide down the area, and flooding creeks have blocked several roads.
"The canyons are completely impassable," said Lt. Lloyd Downing of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies drove in fire trucks with bull horns, asking residents to leave the area, he said.
Several homes in Modjeska Canyon are being evacuated because of mudslides, with deputies taking rides alongside firefighters because their patrol cars cannot traverse through the rough and muddy terrain.
In Silverado Canyon, a mudslide at the 2800 block of Bond Way caused deputies to evacuate a trailer park community there, said Lt. Jim England of the Orange County Sheriff's Department
There were no reports of injuries or of significant structure damage, but England said the evacuations were precautionary. Calvary Church in Silverado is being used as an evacuation center.
In Lake Forest at about 2 a.m., a 100-foot eucalyptus tree fell on a house in the 24800 block of Knollwood, said sherrif's Sgt. Roger Dawes. The homeowner said this is the second time an eucalyptus tree has fallen onto his house.
Just after 7 a.m., firefighters were called to the 31100 block of Via San Vicente, in San Juan Capistrano, were deputies received a call of a large tree falling on the roof of a home there.
An elderly woman was inside the home when the tree fell, said Capt. Greg McKeown of the Orange County Fire Authority, and firefighters assisted in getting her out of the home, he said.
ROAD CLOSURES
Mud and debris along with flooding closed the 241 toll road and Santiago Canyon Road at the 241. It also prompted the closure of Laguna Canyon Road between Santiago Road and Forest Avenue.
The California Highway Patrol also closed Ortega Highway between La Pata and the Riverside County line.
Rain continues to fall in most areas.
A flash-flood watch, which began at 9 p.m. Tuesday night remains in effect through at least 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The weather service had warned that this new rainstorm was powerful enough to generate hail and even tornadoes.
At 2 a.m. at least six people were rescued from their cars in Laguna Woods after they drove around barricades set up because of flooding, Downing said.
In one case, a woman was rescued by a sheriff's deputy as her car began to submerge near El Toro Road and Moulton Parkway.
In Lake Forest, El Toro Drive, Lake Forest Drive and Muirlands Boulevard are flooded, Downing said.
Cook's Corner in Trabuco Canyon is flooded and is making roads impassable. Black Star Canyon and Silverado Canyon are flooded and people are being evacuated, Downing said.
A county alert sent to canyon residents reported Santiago Canyon Road was closed from Cook's Corner to the 241/261 interchange.Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/downing-281279-flooded-canyon.html
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