According to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, evacuation advisories for three mobile home parks near the Lawson Dump site in Thermal were lifted following rainwater sample tests that revealed no substantial health risks to residents. County departments collaborated to respond to the emergency and prioritize resident health and safety during the flooding.
"Many county departments worked together to respond to this emergency prioritizing the health and safety of our residents affected by the flooded waters in the mobile home parks," said Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "A shelter was made available and clean-up efforts were in place to avoid any contact with rainwaters in the area. We are pleased to learn the results and more importantly to know our residents were not in danger."
The examination of water samples taken from the area identified trace quantities of toxins, including heightened concentrations of certain metals. However, authorities confirmed that these levels were insufficient to present any health risks. The analysis, conducted by a third-party laboratory, was reviewed by both the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and the Riverside County Public Health Department, following directives from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Officials explained that the evacuation warning has been lifted primarily due to the receding rainwater in the area. Dr. Geoffrey Leung, Riverside County's public health officer, stated that the initial warning was issued to safeguard residents from potential health hazards. However, after reviewing test results and observing the decrease in standing water, it was deemed safe to lift the evacuation warning. None of the residents in the evacuation zone sought shelter at the Galilee Center in nearby Mecca following the storm.
On September 5, Riverside County officially declared a local emergency in response to the aftermath of flash floods in the eastern Coachella Valley on September 1. Local communities reportedly received nearly two to three inches of rainfall in a short timeframe. The flooding resulted in extensive damage to local roads, the Oasis Community Park, and raised substantial health concerns after rainwater caused a breach of the Lawson Dump.