Mudslides and flooding unleashed by heavy rains in Southern California prompted evacuation and shelter in place orders for thousands of people and on Tuesday, the aftermath was being felt across the state.
Rain that fell in a mountainous area east of Los Angeles were the remnants of a tropical storm and shot boulders and other debris across roads damaging structures including a commercial building where the mud was so high it collapsed the roof.
Areas heavily impacted and evacuated in San Bernardino County include Forest Falls and the City of Yucaipa which includes a portion of the San Bernardino National Forest some 70 miles east of Los Angeles.
After the Yucaipa Police Department issued an evacuation order for the city, video captured by Roger Seheult shows a fast wall of mud quickly cover the road in front of him. The mudflow is seen pouring past the Oak Glen Steak House, causing a man standing closer by to run as it continued to come.
The natural disaster closed the business’s doors indefinitely “due to unfortunate and catastrophic circumstances,” it posted on its Facebook page.
More on the mudslides:Heavy rains unleash mudslides in Southern California, prompting evacuations
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“Our building’s covered inside and out by mother nature coming down from these mountains,” co-owner Brandon Gallegos said fighting back tears in a video posted on the page.
“We thank you all for your understanding during such a difficult time for our staff and family,” the steakhouse posted.
Other powerful images from the area have gone viral on social media, showing a fallen tree and other debris blocking a road in Forest Falls after a mudslide in San Bernardino County.
Another image released by Caltrans District 8 shows mudslides that closed part of Highway SR-38 which runs from Redlands northeast to Big Bear Lake.
This week’s rain brought high winds and some badly needed rainfall to drought-stricken Southern California last week, helping firefighters largely corral a wildfire that had been burning out of control about 20 miles south of the mudslides.
The mudflows and flash flooding took place in parts of the San Bernardino Mountains where there are burn scars — areas where there’s little vegetation to hold the soil — from2020 wildfires.
Contributing: The Associated Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund