FLOODING AND MUDSLIDES WREAK HAVOC IN RURAL EAST COUNTY

By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Dehesa Elementary School courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Today’s storm has caused significant damage across East County including closure of Dehesa Elementary School and a mudslide that oozed into homes in Rancho San Diego.

Muddy floodwaters drenched the interior of classrooms at Dehesa Elementary, soaking electrical and computer equipment on floors.  The school will remain closed until Monday for cleanup, 10 News reports.

A rain-soaked hillside collapsed onto Willow Glen Drive at Hillsdale Road in the Rancho San Diego area of unincorporated El Cajon.  Up to four inches of mud seeped into homes below, where homeowners tried in vain to divert the torrent by digging ditches.

Some residents voiced anger at the County for issuing a grading permit to the owner of the property that turned into a “slip and slide” as one victim described the scenario, NBC 7 news reports. The County has indicated the land is private property and that County officials will be working with the owner to prevent future mudslides.