SoCal hit by mudslides, flooding as powerful storm slams region

The heavy rain forced evacuations and flooded a home in a Highland neighborhood Thursday night, trapping three dogs inside the property.

Mud and debris flowed over Ypsilantha Street as rising flood waters carved through the East Highland neighborhood.

The home became flooded while the homeowners were out of town. Friends of the family who live in the home rushed in to rescue the dogs as the high water reached the home's window.

"He's out in Las Vegas for a cheer competition with his daughter and he wasn't expecting all of this rain," said Ramona Hernandez, a friend of the homeowner.

Those trying to help were ordered to leave because the situation became too dangerous.

"We were able to get one of his dogs inside of the car with my daughter right now but he has two other dogs," Hernandez said. "One's in the house. That dog would not come with me. He kind of snapped. The other one is inside of the garage."

Hernandez said she felt defeated for not being able to reach the dogs.

"The door is so swollen on the bottom half that I couldn't. I tried my best, my husband tried too, to try to open that door. We just couldn't get it open," she said.

Water appeared to recede around the home on Thursday evening, which helped ease some concerns for the dogs' safety.

Friends of the dog's owners hoped to return to the home on Friday to retrieve the animals.

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As heavy rain hit Southern California, the roof of a Smart & Final store in Azusa partially collapsed.

The partial collapse happened with shoppers inside the store, but Azusa police says no injuries were reported and everyone was safely evacuated. It's unknown how many people were inside the store at the time.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m. at the Smart & Final store on Foothill Boulevard.

A strong storm that pummeled Los Angeles Thursday evening unleashed a large debris flow that left Mulholland Drive a muddy mess.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported about eight inches of mud was dropped near Mulholland and Outpost drives in the Hollywood Hills.

No injuries were reported, but crews scrambled to ensure the safety of structures above and below the slide area.

LAFD later determined homes above the debris flow were stable, but the muddy mess prompted a closure of that area of Mulholland.

The closure will remain in place for the duration of the storm, LAFD said.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Mud and debris poured off the fire-scarred hillsides during the heavy downpours on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Thursday, even sweeping a Los Angeles Fire Department SUV with a member inside into the ocean.

Video captured the moment the firefighter made it to safety and back onto the highway after the force of the runoff pushed the LAFD SUV into the surf.

"Fortunately, the member was able to exit his vehicle and reach safety with minor injuries. He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution," said LAFD Capt. Erik Scott.

The wrecked SUV, however, was still sitting in the ocean as of 11 p.m. Thursday with the waves crashing against it.

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