Floods Force Evacuation in San Bernardino County, Destroy Part of California 14

Flash floods that inundated portions of Southern California on Thursday prompted evacuations in a San Bernardino County mountain hamlet and destroyed a stretch of highway, flooded 20 homes and washed away a park ranger’s house in the Kern County community of Ridgecrest, authorities said.

Sudden pounding rains and golf-ball-size hail fueled a powerful mudflow that surged through Forest Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest about 6 p.m., forcing some residents to evacuate, shutting off electricity and damaging mountain cabins, said Bonnie Curtis, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

“The whole community has no power and there’s been extensive damage to a lot of houses,” Curtis said.

She said two residents suffered unspecified minor injuries.

In Ridgecrest, water and mudslides overturned cars and demolished a 40-foot-wide stretch of California 14, which runs through Red Rock Canyon State Park, creating a 50-foot drop in the middle of the roadway.

“It was horrendous. It was an absolute thing that takes your breath away,” Cmdr. David Merritt of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department said of the giant gully.

The downpour started at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and by nightfall, a 12-foot-deep river rushed down the mountains, crashing onto the highway and surrounding areas, he said.

California 14 is a common route for Los Angeles travelers to this desert area 45 miles northeast of Bakersfield. It serves as the main thoroughfare between the Mojave Desert and Ridgecrest.

The storm also flooded 20 homes, damaged two bridges and washed away a park ranger’s house, but no injuries were reported.

“We were very lucky that we have lost no lives. There is no doubt that God smiled on us last night. It could have been much worse,” said Sgt. Craig Porter.

The highway will be closed indefinitely north of California City Boulevard through the California 178 cutoff outside Ridgecrest, Porter said. Some reports said the road could be closed for up to two weeks.

Authorities recommend using U.S. 395 as an alternate route to the desert and neighboring areas. The damaged portion of California 14 is 65 miles outside Los Angeles County.