Live updates: Storm brings flooding, stalled cars near Burbank airport

Business owners dealing with significant flooding damage say they are disappointed that pre-positioned city trucks intended to act as vacuums didn't keep them dry.

Heavy rain overwhelmed parts of Melrose Avenue on Monday, flooding several businesses in the Fairfax District and leaving store owners with significant damage. Now, business owners say they are disappointed that city equipment pre-positioned in the area didn't keep them dry.

As water quickly rose along the well-known shopping corridor late in the morning, store owners said their shops filled up within minutes.

"I saw the water was coming up, and then it didn't take long, maybe 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and our whole store was full of water," said Yaffa, the owner of Posers Hollywood.

Large blue city trucks pre-positioned in the area were intended to act as vacuums to clear standing water along the floodprone stretch of Melrose.

Domenic DeLuca, the owner of Brooklyn Projects, said he watched the water creep past the sidewalk and into his store.

"First started going over the sidewalk, and I'm thinking, 'Well, the trucks are here, so we're going to be good.' But that didn't work," DeLuca said. "The water started coming up, and then eventually it started really coming up -- and then the whole store was underwater from front to back, like 4 to 5 inches of water."

With water rising into his store while he stared at the trucks through his rain-soaked surveillance cameras, DeLuca said he was furious.

"I'm looking at my camera, there was nobody here," he said. "We ran out like, 'Is this guy not seeing what's going on?' Nobody in this one, nobody in this one, nobody around."

Cellphone video later showed a crew opening a manhole cover, allowing water to swirl and drain within seconds. But by that point, the damage had already spread through multiple shops.

Read more here.

The Flash Flood Warning has been lifted for parts of Los Angeles County, but a Flood Advisory was extended through 9 p.m. Monday, Mayor Karen Bass said in a post on X.

"We received significant rainfall in a short period of time, so please continue to drive carefully and remain alert," Bass said.

Los Angeles County officials issued an ocean water advisory Monday through at least Saturday morning, warning beachgoers to stay out of the water.

The advisory urges people to avoid ocean areas near storm drains, creeks and rivers because of elevated levels of bacteria, chemicals, trash and debris washed into the water by runoff.

Officials say entering the ocean under these conditions can lead to illness.

Ocean water quality advisories typically remain in place for about 72 hours after rainfall ends, but officials said the current warning will remain active until at least Saturday morning.

Health leaders recommend staying out of the water until the advisory is lifted.

ABC7 Eyewitness News reporter Madison Weil explains:

Los Angeles County officials issued an ocean water advisory Monday through at least Saturday morning, warning beachgoers to stay out of the water.

Heavy rain on Monday led to flooded streets and vehicle rescues in Commerce and El Monte, where drivers were stranded as water quickly rose.

Heavy rain on Monday led to flooded streets and multiple vehicle rescues in Commerce and El Monte, where several drivers were stranded as water quickly rose across roadways.

Caltrans crews worked to clear clogged drains along Garfield Avenue in Commerce after at least five vehicles became stuck in high water. Debris marked where floodwaters had pooled earlier in the day.

Sandra Shpegel of Montebello said she normally avoids driving her Dodge Charger in the rain, but needed to get gas. When she attempted to drive through a flooded street in the City of Commerce, water rushed into her car.

"The tow truck driver thinks my car is going to be totaled because of the water damage," Shpegel said.

She said she had to be pulled out through the driver's side window. While stuck, she said a semi-truck sideswiped her vehicle. Shpegel urged other drivers not to risk driving through standing water.

"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 said.

In El Monte, drivers encountered additional flooded streets as the storm continued. Motorist Joey Rodriguez said the rain created hazards throughout the area.

"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.

Another driver, Sabrina Martinez, said commuters were facing delays.

"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," she said.

While rainfall eased by Monday evening in Commerce, cones remained in place, blocking through traffic in both directions on Garfield Avenue as crews continued to work to keep drains clear.