Water Rescue, Mudslide Follow Year's First Major Storm

Heavy rainfall hammered Orange County today, causing a small mudslide in Silverado Canyon, but the bulk of the precipitation ended by mid-afternoon, giving residents a break -- at least for a few hours.

A roughly 15-foot-wide mudslide descended this afternoon in the 31300 block of Silverado Canyon Road, making eastbound lanes impassable, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi. Public works officials were working to clear it as of 3:30 p.m.

National Weather Service forecasters said the “bulk” of the storm had passed through Orange County by mid-afternoon, but there are still chances of isolated showers through the rest of the day. Another round of showers will pass through Wednesday.

There were no major incidents other than a swiftwater rescue of a transient in his 40s who was swept up in fast-moving water in Buena Park about 9:45 a.m., according to Concialdi. The man was taken to an area hospital in moderate condition.

Witnesses called authorities when they saw the man, who was walking too closely to Brea Creek, swept off his feet around Gilbert Street and Malvern Avenue in Fullerton, Concialdi said. The waters took the man about a mile away before he managed to struggle free at Malvern and Dale Street in Buena Park, Concialdi said.

“He was extremely cold and had abrasions to his feet and arms,” Concialdi said.

At 10 a.m., a crash involving a vehicle and a bus on the Santa Ana (5) Freeway sent three patients to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange with moderate injuries, Concialdi said.

Concialdi warned residents that they can be swept away by as little as six inches of water. Cars can be swept along in a foot of water and SUVs in 18 inches of water, he added.

Some flooding occurred at Goldenwest Street and Heil Avenue in Huntington Beach, but there were no other major problems in that city, Officer Jennifer Marlatt said.

No significant weather-related incidents or flooding was reported in Seal Beach or Newport Beach.

In Silverado Canyon, residents were hunkering down and no one had heeded a voluntary evacuation call, Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

“Those people who live out there prepare for it and expect it,” Hallock said.

Dirt trails throughout the county’s parks system were closed until further notice, according to a parks spokeswoman, but paved trails were still open.

City News Service; Photo: Orange County Fire Authority swift water rescue drill courtesy of OCFA