Heavy rain fell in the Southern California region as Tropical Storm Kay – a former hurricane – moved offshore. The storm pushed intense moisture bands into the region, and desert and mountain communities in particular saw the heaviest rainfall. In Oak Glen, located east of Yucaipa, residents spent Tuesday cleaning up the massive mess that was left behind. Many roads remain blocked by mud, while electricity is still out for many homes. Some evacuation orders finally came in by 6pm on Tuesday as crews continued to clear roads and check the wreckage for survivors. Yucaipa Police tweeted: “Evac Order to be lifted at Oak Glen Rd/Wildwood Canyon to Upper Potato Canyon Rd. Evac Order lifted from Oak Glen Rd/Casa Blanca to Chagall Rd. Only residents will be allowed on Oak Glen Rd/Chagall to run Quail Rd. Potato Canyon Rd will remain closed.” Bob Fonzi said he was in his shed when the storm hit. “About 15 minutes later, I go out to move my tractor and I see all the swelling coming at me,” he recalls. In seconds, Fonzi’s horses were standing in the mud and his trailer began to float. “You have destroyed houses and yards all the way down that creek,” Fonzi said. Roger Seheult told Eyewitness News he was on his way to pick up his daughters from school when a huge puddle of mud came rushing toward him and the Oak Glen Steakhouse and Saloon. “The next thing I know, it’s wave after wave of mud, of debris, coming down from this flash flood,” he said. The owner of Oak Glen Steakhouse said the business was badly damaged and is now closed “indefinitely”. A GoFundMe page has been started to help the steakhouse. Owners expect that insurance will only cover a limited amount of total damage. The entire dining room and back office of the restaurant remain covered in mud. The owners of the restaurant are committed to cleaning up and rebuilding. “The damage is pretty bad,” said restaurant manager Brandon Gallegos. “As you’ve seen, we’ve put a lot of years into this place. A lot of staff that’s helped me over the years. A lot of financial investment in all of this. When you see it all, you just have to thank God that everybody’s okay.” Evacuations were ordered Monday night for several communities. Yucaipa police tweeted that the communities of “Oak Glen, Oak Glen Road, north and south, from Casa Blanca Road to the County Line, south from Wild Lilac Point to WildWood Canyon Road, are under an EVACUATION ORDER.” An evacuation shelter was established at Redlands East Valley High School, 31000 E Colton Ave, Redlands. Residents of the Forest Falls community were told to evacuate until further notice. WARNING: Crews in Yucaipa are working to clear debris after massive mudflows Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
