Flooding Strands Drivers, Causes Delays Across Southern California
Heavy rainfall on Monday led to widespread flooding in parts of Southern California, stranding motorists in Commerce and El Monte and causing significant traffic delays. Emergency crews responded to multiple vehicle rescues as roadways quickly became inundated with water.
In Commerce, Caltrans crews worked to clear clogged drains along Garfield Avenue after at least five vehicles became stuck in high water. Debris littered the streets following the rapid rise in floodwaters. The roadway remained partially blocked as of Monday evening, with cones in place to divert traffic.
Sandra Shpegel of Montebello recounted a harrowing experience after attempting to drive through a flooded street in Commerce to get gas. “The tow truck driver thinks my car is going to be totaled because of the water damage,” Shpegel said. She described being pulled from her vehicle through the driver’s side window, and added that a semi-truck sideswiped her car while she was stranded.
Shpegel pleaded with other drivers to avoid attempting to navigate flooded roadways. “Don’t try to drive through anything flooded, because other people were getting stuck after all of us were stuck. And my daughter just got stuck, too, and she had to get pulled out the window with the ambulance and the fire department, too. So, it’s ugly. It’s worse than anything we’ve ever been through,” she stated.
The situation was similar in El Monte, where drivers encountered numerous flooded streets. Motorist Joey Rodriguez described the hazardous conditions. “There’s like, puddles everywhere. So like, pulling up here, I was just splashing water everywhere. Being really cautious, driving really slow, stuff like that,” Rodriguez said.
Commuters also faced significant delays. Sabrina Martinez reported, “It’s crazy. It’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. You definitely have to plan to go to work a little earlier. But you just have to plan ahead of time.”
The flooding in Southern California comes as other parts of the country are also grappling with severe weather. , torrential rain triggered floods and mudslides in Washington state, prompting evacuations, according to reports. Meanwhile, road closures were reported in Lake County, Florida, raising concerns about stormwater management.
In Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish, several road closures were in effect as of . According to the City-Parish’s Department of Transportation and Drainage, Old Hammond Hwy, Highland Rd, Evangeline St, and North 3rd St are among the roads currently closed, with varying closure durations. Other closures include E. Harrison, Maryland St, Lower Zachary Rd, France St, Tiger Bend Road, Fernwood Drive, and Victoria Dr Bridge. Residents seeking detailed information about specific closures are encouraged to visit the city’s GIS website or contact the Department of Transportation and Drainage directly at roadclosure@brla.gov.
