Sunny Southern California had a temporary end to the heat wave during Tropical Storm Kay’s landfall on Friday. While providing some relief to the region’s usually sky-high temperatures, it also brought more problems to residents who were affected by the damage that it left behind.
The tropical storm caused flash flooding, and a mudslide across Pine Canyon Road, 65 miles away from Los Angeles, Sunday night. According to the National Weather Service, emergency personnel immediately took action and arrived at the scene around 7:40 p.m. They had to rescue 53 people and 24 vehicles that were unable to escape the debris and the mud.
Debris that came from higher areas fell everywhere, making it dangerous for people to move about. Thick mud was also blocking the road, as shown in videos taken by the local residents and media outlets. A mother shared that she and her two children had to climb on top of their car roof to prevent being caught up in the mudslide.
Adults and children were covered in mud and trapped in their cars for hours.
In addition to the mudslide, the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Air Operations Section had to rescue a total of 14 people, both adults and children, from five different areas on the same highway.
Tropical Storm Kay also caused a number of road closures due to area damage. This included roads at Death Valley National Park, part of California highway 190, and Badwater Road. A warning to leave was issued to residents, but on Saturday, it was reported that around 40 vehicles were already trapped in the area due to flooding.
After the initial rainfall, Kay has weakened and is no longer a tropical storm. It made its impact, and Lake Hughes recorded more than 1.5 inches of rain within a 24 hour time period. Residents were strongly advised to remain cautious and ready for possible aftereffects from the storm and mudslide.