UPDATE 17 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Sunday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m.) –  A vigorous rain has begun in Pine Mountain. It is tapering off in Frazier Park to the east. NOAA predictions suggest the storm is heading northward, but the precipitation is continuing in the Mountain Communities as well. Thunder and lightening are also occurring. It is wise to take shelter in a lightening storm, inside a building or vehicle.

Amy Smith, executive director of the Kern County chapter of the American Red Cross confirmed at 11 a.m. that 13 people sheltered at Frazier Park Elementary School last night, and two stayed at Frazier Mountain High School, when they were unable to get home because of mudslides in the area last night, July 18.

“We have disaster trailers to open a shelter to accommodate up to 100 people,” Smith said. “We have one based in Lebec and brought one to Frazier Park from Bakersfield.
We had residents join us through the night.”

She said the shelter was nearly empty by dawn: “As soon as it was light outside, most people tried to get out to see what was going on at their homes. We’re been doing some disaster assessment in the community now. We have distributed basic clean up kits to help them start that process. Those are a broom, a shovel, disinfectant and things like that to help them start on the work.”

Smith said they treat this kind of flood much like a house fire. If people are not able to stay at their house, the Red Cross will help with emergency shelter until people can make arrangements. If you have damage you can call the Kern Chapter Red Cross office at 661-324-6427,  then press “3” to be connected with Disaster Services.

“The Kern County Emergency Operations Center will work with us to decide how long to maintain the shelter here,” Smith explained. “We will help people to get back on their feet. We also have a nurse here and mental health services available.”

She said workers at the shelters have seen no injuries so far.

UPDATE 16 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Sunday, July 19 at 10 a.m.)– The Red Cross confirms that one shelter location is open at this time for those who have been affected by the storm. Alice Assaly and about 15 others who were unable to get home last night found it helpful:
·  Frazier Park Elementary School: 3149 San Carlos Trail, Frazier Park 93225
The shelter previously located at Frazier Mountain High School was notified to close this morning at about 9 a.m. by the Kern County Emergency Operations Center.  All Red Cross operations will move to the Frazier Park Elementary School shelter location. Residents affected by flood or mudslide damage should contact the Kern Chapter Red Cross office at 661-324-6427, and then press “3” to be connected with Disaster Services.

In Lake of the Woods at least one home near a creek bed has mud running through it, about a foot deep.

UPDATE 15 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Sunday, July 19 at 8:40 a.m.)–Terri Lacasse from Lake of the Woods has boulders and mudflows suddenly transforming her yard. She sent some photos. Lacasse said boulders that crashed into a tractor were stopped from being slammed into the house [see photos 11-13 above]. The fact that 2.42 inches of rain fell over parts of Frazier Park and Lake of the Woods in a short time explains the magnitude of the damage.

UPDATE 14 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Sunday, July 19 at 7 a.m.)–Jerry Ferris from Frazier Mountain Weather just wrote with stats from NOAA for storm totals thus far: “Frazier Park is
near the top of ‘most-hit’ areas [in the county], but even more interesting is the fact that the north end [at Kern County Fire Station 57] received so much more rain than we did at the weather station at the other end of town. The weather station on that side of town received 2.42 inches of rain and the fire department received 2.37 inches. Now we know why the road washed out so badly in that area.”
Ferris also reports this record:
Rainfall statement as of 6:12 AM PDT on July 19, 2015
Rainfall reports—past 24 hours in the Kern County mountains…
Location                                  amount    time/date       elevation
Frazier Park station 57           2.37 in   0518 am 07/19   4981 ft
Frazier Park southside           1.51 in   0516 am 07/19   4658 ft
Grapevine Peak                     1.11 in   0513 am 07/19   4647 ft

UPDATE 13 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Sunday, July 19 at 5:40 a.m.)–Al Tapia of Pine Mountain writes: “This morning, at about 3:45 a.m., the road at Midway Market in Lake of the Woods was closed. There were several earth-moving vehicles trying to clear mud from the road. The CHP escorted me and another vehicle onto the off-road path beside the road until we got past the roadwork.”

Jerry Ferris’ FPweather.com (at 5,440 feet) shows 1.51 inches of rain in Frazier Park during the past 24 hours. We have a reading of just 0.2 inches of rain in Pine Mountain since yesterday (at 6,000 feet.

A Tapia said that several spots from his home in Pine Mountain to the Mil Potrero “Y” have cinders, “causing my car to slide slightly.” He also reports “a lot of rocks and mud” in several places from Lake of the Woods to the last bridge before the Interstate 5 freeway.

Mona McCabe sent out an alert that Midway Market stayed open through the night with fresh coffee for those traveling through Lake of the Woods. She was there until about 2:30 a.m.

We’d like to thank the Kern County Roads Department crews, California Highway Patrol, Kern County Sheriff’s deputies and Kern County Fire Department personnel who have been on the job to help our Mountain Communities yesterday, last night, and this morning.

UPDATE 12 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 10:45 p.m.)–An intense rain started in the Pine Mountain community, and passed. More rain is expected throughout the region. All roads are passable at this time.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has sent out a bulletin offering “aid and comfort” to anyone affected by the flash flooding. This is their statement:
“Bakersfield, CA July 18, 2015 — The American Red Cross of Kern County has opened two shelters for residents of the Frazier Park / Pine Mountain Club area due to flash flooding and mudslides. The two locations are:
•Frazier Mountain High School:  700 Falcon Way, Lebec 93243
· Frazier Park Elementary School: 3149 San Carlos Trail, Frazier Park 93225

UPDATE 11 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 10:30 p.m.)– Frazier Mountain Park Road at Woods Drive in Lake of the Woods has been opened, “for now,” according to Captain Calhoun at Kern County Fire Station 57. [NOTE: this may have been intermittent]. The roadway just east of Frazier Park is also open. Captain Calhoun cautioned that the road could be closed again at any time. According to the Kern County Fire Department PIO, anyone who needs an evacuation center can go to Frazier Park Elementary School, Frazier Mountain High School or in PMC the PMCPOA clubhouse.

UPDATE 10 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 10:15 p.m.)– In the past hour an attempt was being made to cut a path through the mud flows to try to get an ambulance from Frazier Park to the Pine Mountain community, according to the CHP website. The report is vague, indicating there was an attempt to get through the blocked portion of Frazier Mountain Park Road in Lake of the Woods. We have not yet had a confirmation on this report, or of the success of the attempt.

UPDATE 9 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 10 p.m.)—JJune Schmidt of Frazier Park just confirmed that she can see a portion of Frazier Mountain Park Road from her house. A group of vehicles with emergency lights headed westbound, “including one that looks like a grader.”  She confirmed with a neighbor whose husband had been stuck at Flying J  that he has now been able to get home.

So, for now, Frazier Mountain Park Road from Lebec to Frazier Park is open. The Lake of the Woods blockage is still closed, just east of Midway Market.

However, Schmidt reports, the rain is still heavy in Frazier Park.The NOAA forecast is for rain to continue into Monday “with the heaviest amounts between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow, so I don’t think we are out of this yet,” June Schmidt writes.

UPDATE 8 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 9:45 p.m.)—”Not sure how long it will last,” writes June Schmidt, “but they re-opened the portion of Frazier Mtn Road by the lower bridge about 1/2 hour ago and the emergency equipment moved up toward Lake of the Woods.”

The Mountain Enterprise has not been able to get a confirmation of that report from the Kern County Fire Department. We are seeking info from other sources to confirm. The Kern County Roads Department has not returned calls at this time.

UPDATE 7 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 8:45 p.m.)—June Schmidt in Frazier Park said, “We just received a ‘robocall’ from Kern County telling all residents from Lebec to Pine Mountain to be prepared for more heavy rains and possible flooding until 10:30 p.m. The message also said that emergency shelter is available at the PMC clubhouse, Frazier Park Elementary School and Frazier Mountain High School.

Pine Mountain Patrol confirmed the clubhouse is available if it is needed for those needing shelter, but it has not been “set up” as a shelter.

UPDATE 6 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, LEBEC, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 8:33 p.m.)—Kern county Fire Department Public Information Officer Leland Davis says that multiple crews have been sent up to try work on roads in the Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods area, but the situation is still not cleared.

“You folks are still top priority,” Davis said from Bakersfield, indicating that there is heavy intermittent rain there and elsewhere in Kern County, but the Mountain Communities, “have been been hit pretty hard.”

He said he is waiting for confirmation about the emergency evacuation area for those with damaged dwellings or those unable to get home because of the blocked roads.

Finn Myggen said the available hotel rooms in Lebec are disappearing rapidly as mountain residents resign themselves to not getting home this evening.
Meanwhile, over in Pine Mountain area, at 6,000 feet, the rain gauge is showing only .1 inch. Frazier Park, Lebec and Lake of the Woods are receiving 7 times more rain than that so far, and intermittent rains continue.

Jim Schmidt in Frazier Park reports that the parking lot of  the Frazier Park Market is flooded about “ankle deep” and employees are using brooms to try to keep water from flooding the store.

More rain is anticipated tomorrow.

UPDATE 5 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 7:25 p.m.)—Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Leland Davis reported that mudslides have occurred in various areas of the Mountain Communities, including near Lebec Oaks Road where a mudslide has hit a house. Reporter Gary Meyer heard from residents inside Midway Market in Lake of the Woods who said a house on Border Street had been severely damaged by a mudslide. Davis said that a command post was being set up at Frazier Park Elementary School. He did not have an estimate of when the roadway in Lake of the Woods or Frazier Park might be open to traffic.

UPDATE 4 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 6:05 p.m.)—At 6:05 p.m. Kern County Firefighters informed motorists waiting in line that they needed to turn around and take detours to get where they need to go. Engine 58 did get across the flood to assist the public east of the flood.

Many of those waiting in line turned around to come back through Pine Mountain and Mil Potrero Highway to get to Taft and then to Interstate 5. Much of the backup at the flood site is now cleared.

The rain is continuing in Frazier Park, off and on. There are now also significant lightening bolts. Please take shelter. If you hear thunder, lightening can strike 15 miles away.

UPDATE 3 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 6 p.m.)—Jerry Ferris of Mountain Communities Weather writes at 5:45 p.m. that between 4:37 p.m. and 5:13 p.m. Frazier Park received a total of .70” of rainfall and significant thunder and lightning to go with it:

“As of this time it has slowed down some but looks like we may be hit with more rain later tonight,”Ferris said.

“I’m sure flooding must be significant as things here are extremely wet and a river is running down East End Drive, it’s about 3 feet wide… more will be coming down in the a.m. hours,” Ferris said.

UPDATE 2 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 5:47 p.m.)— The Kern County Roads Department is trying to get to the flooding area east of Lockwood Valley Road, but “they are stuck themselves, east of Frazier Park on Frazier Mountain Park Road where there has been more flooding,” said the emergency dispatcher.

UPDATE 1 • LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 5:33 p.m.)—Frazier Mountain Park Road is closed off by boulders, water and mud that came crashing down from Woods Road in Lake of the Woods, about 1/2 mile east of Midway Market.  The eastbound lanes are backed up past Lockwood Valley Road now.

Warning:  4x4s should NOT try to cross this. A Lebec Road Service Truck is stuck in the 50 foot span of mud.

“No one should think they can come down here and cross this,” said Mountain Enterprise Publisher Gary Meyer, who is also caught in the back up.

People  are now standing outside of their cars. Sam Sloan, 9 is looking over the situation, with shorts, no shoes and no shirt. He came with his brother and father to go shooting in Lockwood Valley today, he said.  He is not sure if the family will get home for dinner in Los Angeles.

LAKE OF THE WOODS, FRAZIER PARK, CA (Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m.)—A flash flood brought down large boulders, water and dirt across Frazier Mountain Park Road from Woods Drive in Lake of the Woods, about a half mile east from the Midway Market. An estimated 100 cars are backed up on the west side of the barrier, and about 50 cars on the east side. The blockage is estimated to be about 50 feet wide.

We’ll post photos as soon as we can.

This is part of the July 17, 2015 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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