Numerous Riverside County agencies continued cleanup and recovery efforts Thursday in the North Shore community following the hazardous conditions created by Tropical Storm Rachel over the weekend.
“Our county teams have been on the ground since the storm hit, working to assess damage, clear our roads and help our North Shore residents recover,” said Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor Manuel Perez.. “We know there is still work ahead, and we will continue coordinating across county department to address impacts and support our community throughout the recovery process.”
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department initially responded to the North Shore and Mecca area about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and assessed damage to home and other properties after it was safe to do so. The agency reported 14 homes with water or mud intrusion, which affected living areas, garages and carports, and several vehicles were surrounded by mud and debris.
The downpours and gusty winds from the storm created dangerous conditions throughout the region, including flooding and mud or debris flows.
Several Facebook posts revealed numerous vehicles stuck in mud, driveways damaged, trees and fences knocked down and numerous roadways damaged.
In an effort to assist residents clean up properties in the area, EMD has coordinated with TODEC, the Catholic Diocese, the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon and Riverside County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, Perez said.
A spokesperson for the Riverside County Transportation Department told City News Service on Wednesday that storm debris removal and roadway clean-up efforts continued throughout the eastern Coachella Valley, particularly in the North Shore area.
The storm impacted roughly 15-20 miles of county roadways, with most currently open and passable to vehicles except on Box Canyon Road, which will remain closed until further notice.
“Preliminary estimates indicate approximately $4 million to $5 million in roadway damage throughout the affected area,” the spokesperson said.
“I urge residents to prepare for anticipated storms by utilizing the resources we have available to them specifically through our rivcoready.org website and by downloading the AlertRivCo app,” Perez said.
Residents can report damages by dialing 211. More information about disaster preparedness can be found at emd.rivco.gov/storms.