SoCal communities left with mud, damage after days of wet weather

Hours of rain, heavy at times, created problems across Los Angeles, including in the Sun Valley area where a section of the 5 Freeway became flooded.

A portion of the 5 was also closed in San Fernando after a crash involving a FedEx truck. The truck split open and packages scattered all over the lanes.

The flooding got so bad in Eagle Rock, at Colorado Boulevard and Monte Bonito, that cars were forced to turn around once they reached a main artery that was completely flooded.

The powerful SoCal storm caused major flooding on the 5 Freeway in the L.A. neighborhood of Sun Valley. The rain caused traffic problems in other parts of the city.

Multiple roads in both Los Angeles and Ventura counties remain affected by the wild storm, with some state routes experiencing full closures.

The northbound 5 Freeway remains closed between Lankershim Boulevard and Truxford Street.

Meanwhile, the southbound freeway only has two right lanes open between Sheldon Street and Lankershim Boulevard. The southbound Lankershim Boulevard on-ramp, as well as the southbound Calgrove Boulevard on-ramp are closed.

The 101 Freeway has reduced lanes, with the left lane closed in both directions between California Street and Seaward Avenue.

There's a full closure of the Angeles Crest Highway. It is closed for 12 miles west of State Route 39, on San Gabriel Canyon Road.

State Route 27 at Topanga Canyon Boulevard remains closed between Grand View Drive and Pacific Coast Highway.

All lanes are closed on the State Route 33 between Fairview and Lockwood Valley roads.

State Route 138 also has a full closure between State Route 18 and 263rd Steet East in Ventura County.

Evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted for areas near the Airport Fire burn scar, according to Orange County officials.

The areas include Trabuco Creek, Bell Canyon and Hot Springs Canyon. The orders expired at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The orders had been in place since Wednesday morning due to debris flow concerns.

County officials closed roads as a precaution, especially near the Trabuco Canyon Road bridge. Crews have been working nonstop to clear mud and debris while closely monitoring conditions.

The Wrightwood community is asked to shelter in place due to mud and debris flows, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

"Do not attempt to walk or drive through flooded areas," the sheriff's department said in a social media post.

The powerful storm triggered flash flooding that swept through homes as heavy rain pounded the area, video shows. San Bernardino County Fire went door to door to evacuate residents trapped by the water.

The powerful storm triggered flash flooding and mudslides in mountain communities in the Inland Empire.

Along Highway 2, a raging river of mud, rocks and debris cut off access to and from the mountain community.

Firefighters helped motorists trapped in their vehicles, while responding to calls for swift-water rescue.

Cal Fire San Bernardino assisted county crews as conditions quickly deteriorated. Emergency responders are on high alert especially in areas impacted by wildfires.

If you're planning to hit the road this Christmas Eve, be careful! Multiple roads are shut down in the Inland Empire due to flooding from the storm that continues to slam the region.

The north 15 Freeway at state route 138 is backed up all the way to the 210 Freeway by the San Bernardino National Forest due to mud and a sinkhole likely caused by the heavy rain.
Delays of over two hours are expected.

More than half of the northbound side of the 15 Freeway was covered with mud and debris at one point, with only one northbound lane open.

"We gotta see my mom, you know it's Christmas," said Peter Buereas.

When asked if he knew how long that would take, Buereas said, "You know it's funny, it said three and a half hours, and then we get here and it said six."

In Hesperia, flooding prompted an emergency closure between the EB/WB 15 Freeway and Summit Valley Road for an unknown duration, according to Caltrans District 8.

The east and westbound 138 Freeway is also closed between Old Mill Road and state route 173 due to flooding.