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RAIN AND LIGHTNING BRING FIRES, FLOODS, AND POWER OUTAGES

Monsoonal rain and lightning storms slammed parts of Morongo Basin again yesterday, flooding roads, sparking fires, and causing power outages. Thousands of residents in Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Mesa were without power for 10 hours or more, starting about 1 p.m. In Twentynine Palms, Adobe Road, Utah Trail, Two Mile Road, Valle Vista, Amboy Road, Hatch/Sullivan Road, and Highway 62 at Godwin Road were flooded, and residents scrambled to find alternative routes home. Witness reported the rain was blowing sideways at some times. Twentynine Palms firefighters received requests for help from residents whose homes on Sherman Hoyt and Diamond Bar were being inundated with flowing water. Twentynine Palms Fire Chief Jim Thompson said the Sunmore Estates area was heavily impacted, with up to 15 homes damaged with mud, flooding  and downed trees, one on a house. The Twentynine Palms CERT team was activated and two County Hand crews—one an inmate crew—were called in to fill and place over 1,000 sandbags, cut down trees, and help with water and structure damage. Thompson said they finished at about 3:00 a.m. this morning.

Twentynine Palms firefighters divert water away from 10 homes that suffered flooding yesterday.
Twentynine Palms firefighters divert water away from 10 homes that suffered flooding yesterday.
Twentynine Palms firefighters plan how to divert water away from 10 homes that suffered flooding yesterday.
Twentynine Palms firefighters plan how to divert water away from 10 homes that suffered flooding yesterday.

In Joshua Tree, a lightning strike hit a power pole on Commercial Street. Highway 62 was covered with mud and debris in low spots, and several dirt roads were described as “rivers.” The highway was quickly plowed clear thanks to the efforts of road crews. In Joshua Tree National Park, heavy rains forced the temporary closure of several roads, and left rocks, sand, and other debris on some dirt roads. Shortly before 3 p.m., firefighters were called to a small grass fire on Dennis Avenue in Joshua Tree. Remember, if you happen upon water flowing across a road, turn around, don’t drown.

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