In a September 5 news release, Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez announced the damage from the flash flooding in eastern Coachella Valley has prompted the county to proclaim a local emergency.
"The flash floods on Friday came and went quickly but caused significant damage in the eastern Coachella Valley, a lot more so than from Hurricane Hilary," Perez said. "The efforts of our county team and community partners have all been to assist the residents who are having to deal with damage in their communities from this storm. There are many areas that were affected and that's why we quickly proclaimed a local emergency to seek any eligible potential federal and state assistance to support our repair and recovery efforts."
On September 5, Perez declared that the flash flooding in the eastern Coachella Valley had led the county to declare a local emergency. According to Perez, the flash flooding damaged and washed out local roads, the Oasis Community Park, and caused a breach of the Lawson Dump potentially creating severe health risks to the community. CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department has responded to the Lawson Dump breach in coordination with Emergency Management Department crews. Authorities found the flooding caused the breach of a dirt and rock retaining wall and berm along the Lawson Dump on Torres-Martinez tribal land near Thermal. As a result, three surrounding mobile home parks have been flooded with water and "unknown materials". Perez's news release noted the breach has "the potential of severe toxic exposure to the residents". The affected mobile home parks were identified as San Jose Mobile Home Park, Vargas Mobile Home Park, and Gamez Mobile Park, all of which have been under an evacuation warning since Saturday, September 2.
Perez stated that his office and county agencies are collaborating to develop strategies for addressing the Lawson Dump breach, including involving the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for support, and the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health is currently conducting on-site testing to identify potential contaminants. Upon obtaining the results, the department intends to contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for assistance and further guidance. Simultaneously, the Riverside University Health System -- Public Health and the Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions Department have dispatched a team to evaluate the community for potential health consequences. Additionally, on September 5, the Riverside County Transportation Department, the Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, and the Emergency Management Department convened with a contractor to evaluate restoration plans.
"The eastern Coachella Valley was hit hard by the flash flooding and the images of the roads being flooded and parts of roads missing are devastating considering what recently just happened with Hurricane Hilary," said Perez in a September 1 news release. "We are working to quickly address these impacts on our communities which have long needed more and better infrastructure. I want to thank our first responders for being out [August 31] to keep our communities safe during the storms."
Southeastern portions of the Coachella Valley received two to nearly three inches of rain after being under a flood watch early Friday afternoon and into the early evening. In addition to the Lawson Dump breach, several roadways and exit ramps were completely washed away. These included: Hammond Road in Mecca, from Grant Street to Avenue 68, 72nd Avenue in North Shore, westerly to Sea View Drive, Fillmore Street in Thermal, from Avenue 52 to Avenue 54, Pierce Street in Oasis, from Avenue 66 to Harrison Street, Harrison Street in Oasis, from Avenue 70 to Avenue 81, and Johnson Street in Oasis, from Avenue 81 to Avenue 82.
In response to the road closures, the Coachella Water District worked on Avenue 76 and Pierce Street in Oasis in order to re-establish access to the mobile home park.