Lytle Creek families brace for more rain as cleanup continues – NBC Los Angeles

Dozens of families in San Bernardino County’s Lytle Creek community are still recovering from last week’s storm – all while bracing for more rain in the forecast this week.

Crews have been working diligently in the community to clear mud and debris brought upon the town by a winter storm that drenched the region on Christmas Eve and Day. Several mountain communities experienced damaging mudslides in the storm, wreaking havoc on residents who are continuing to deal with the aftermath.

“It’s tragic. It’s a disaster,” said Robert Cardenas, who lives in Lytle Creek.

According to Cardenas, he and his family were unable to vacate the town since a bridge was washed out. That bridge has since been cleaned up, but cleanup efforts remain underway.

“I bought a house and we had work done and now, we can’t move in,” said Marja Kay, a new resident.

Lytle Creek received 11.31 inches of rain, and while some homes in the community were spared by the storm, others weren’t as fortunate.

Larissa Jackson, who now lives in Texas, said her family’s home was lost in the storm. She said she panicked after seeing images on social media of the destruction the rain and mud brought upon her hometown of Piñon Hills. The storm knocked out communication with her father, who lives in the town. Jackson was able to get in touch with her father’s neighbor, however.

San Bernardino County officials conducted door-to-door checks in Wrightwood amid heavy flooding.

“I said, ‘Hi, I’m Paul’s daughter. Do you know where my dad is?’ He said, ‘He’s here, but he’s not OK. He just lost his home,’” Jackson said.

Over the weekend, several volunteers from across the county have been showing up to help families with the cleanup and help prep their homes for the next round of rain. County authorities have not said how many homes were damaged by the storm, but are providing resources to anyone who needs them.

To access resources available from San Bernardino County, click here.