By Miriam Raftery

Video by Ron Cook

December 26, 2010 (Lakeside) – Shortly after reporting about an injured hiker air-lifted off El Capitan Mountain this afternoon, I was dismayed to learn that the victim is East County Magazine’s own videographer Billy Ortiz, creator of our “Video Adventures in East County” series. He was taken to the emergency room at Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he spoke with me by phone moments ago about his harrowing ordeal.

December 26, 2010 (Lakeside) –The San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit has rescued an injured hiker off El Cajon Mountain (known locally as El Capitan Mountain) early this afternoon. According to Incident Page Network, the hiker fell ten feet and had a rock fall on him, prompting a search to locate him by officials.

More rain likely to bring more flooding, debris slides, National Weather Service cautions

December 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A light dusting of snow is forecast for San Diego County mountain peaks over 5500 feet on Christmas Day, the National Weather Service predicts. That includes Mt. Laguna and other high peaks in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. If traveling in mountain areas, be prepared for winter storm conditions and carry tire chains in higher elevations.

San Diego Joins List of Counties Eligible for State Aid Because of Winter Storms

December 24, 2010 (San Diego)--Acting California Gov. Abel Maldonado proclaimed an official state of emergency in San Diego County Friday because of the recent winter storms, making the County eligible for state aid.

December 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Howie Hawver, former soccer coach at Grossmont College and Patrick Henry High School, died December 5th following a two-year battle with Amyotrphic Lateral Schlerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 27th at St. Andrew’s, 8350 Lake Murray Blvd.

 UPDATE: She's been found safe. See new story posted.

Evidence found in missing woman's beige Nissan Ultimata parked near Target store

December 23, 2010 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police, with assistance from the San Diego Sheriff’s crime lab, have processed the vehicle of Sara Rafou, 19, whose vehicle was found in Grossmont Center’s parking lot after she disappeared last night. “Evidence in the vehicle leads us to believe that Sara is missing under suspicious circumstances,” a press release issued by Captain Ed Aceves with La Mesa Police late today states.

Co-workers from Bank America in Grossmont Center saw her exit the front doors at 6:30 last night at the end of her shift. Her unoccupied vehicle was found in the parking lot near the Target Store.  A Facebook page has been set up to help find her.

December 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – One bright spot resulting from the recent storm is the refilling of local reservoirs and aquifers.

“By the end of this current storm, we expect about 1600 acre feet of net local water for this water year,” said Helix Water General Manager Mark Weston. “We budgeted 2200 acre feet from the local watershed, so with this series of storms, we ahe accumulated a great start on the water year.”

December 22, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego River Park Foundation program coordinator Shannon Quigley-Raymond has provided this astonishing video of the floodwaters rushing into Mission Valley today. Amazed to see small islands of reeds, plants and debris being pushed along by flood waters from the San Diego River, she stopped to take a video on San Diego Mission Road, where two cars had just been pulled into the river by floodwaters.

Update 6 p.m.  The sinkhole is now 20-30 feet across and around 30 homes are without water.  Santee Patch has details. 

December 22, 2010 (Santee) -- ECM news partner 10 News reports that a large sinkhole measuring 15 feet wide by six feet deep  has opened up in the 10000 block of Pebble Beach Drive in Santee early this morning. 

December 21, 2010 – CHP’s website reports that a “mountain side came down” completely blocking Rainbow Valley Blvd. at I-15, including a boulder the size of a vehicle. Many other area motorists faced obstacles in the following areas:

December 21, 2010 (Santee) – David Dickinson, 47, was driving a motorcycle Saturday, December 18 on Cuyamaca Street at Prospect in the unincorporated area of Santee when he was struck from behind by another vehicle traveling approximately 80-90 miles per hour. He was taken by ambulance to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where he died the next day, December 19.

December 21, 2010 (2:30 p.m. update) – Here are updates new since our earlier story today, with the latest hazards and casualties of the storm.   Incidents include evacuation of a flooded apartment building, another swift water rescue, traffic accidents, and a sinkhole.

December 21, 2010 (San Diego) 9:15 a.m.--The flood watch issued yesterday has been upgraded to a flood warning for the San Diego River. In addition, many roadways are flooded and there are accidents on numerous streets and highways. Below are details on several of the most recent and severe:
Southbound I-15 at Eastbound I-8: all lanes flooded
Southbound I-5 at 1st Ave. flooded near downtown San Diego

More road problem reports this a.m.:

Several roads closed
December 20, 2010 (San Diego)—The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for all of San Diego County through Wednesday afternoon. Rainfall rates of more than an inch per hour are possible, particularly in the mountains.

“A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation,” the National Weather Service warns.

December 20, 2010 (Lake Morena) – Firefighters at the Lake Morena Fire Station heard an explosion at 8:45 p.m. last night. “They went outside and saw the house next door was on fire,” Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler told East County Magazine. Fire was through the roof, swiftly engulfing the small modular home.