IMPERIAL COUNTY — Imperial County was hit with storms and flash flooding on Monday afternoon and evening, as heavy rains swept across the Valley leaving several drivers stranded along Highway 86 near the Salton Sea.
Emergency crews responded to multiple calls for assistance after fast-moving water engulfed cars and made sections of the highway impassable. Video posted on social media shows drivers climbing on top of their trucks, and some attempted to swim to higher ground.
A medical staging was set up at Loves gas station, and the Coast Guard was notified for assistance. According to the Sheriff's Office blotter report at least 10 people were rescued. Search and rescue was deployed to assist people trapped inside their vehicle. The ICSO advised that several cars were submerged, while others washed away to the side of the road.
The National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood alerts, warning residents to stay home and off of the roads, except in cases of medical emergencies or evacuation orders. The rapidly changing conditions in low lying desert areas can flood quickly, carrying vehicles off course.
No major injuries were reported, but traffic delays extended for hours, leaving some travellers to turn back for the evening.
On Tuesday morning, crews were on scene to assist in clearing the road, and reopening routes.
Chris Jansen with Vision Traffic Control spoke to the Imperial Valley Press about the undertaking.
“We're cleaning up the road, getting the cars off, getting the water cleaned up... all the mud,” he said. “It happened before, but I don't think it's ever happened this bad.”
According to Jansen, crews towed away cars all night.
Daniel, a tow truck driver with Triple A, said he had already towed about three or four cars this morning.
Desert RV assisted in towing multiple cars to clear the road for crews.
In the meantime American Red Cross Southern California Region has opened up emergency shelters at Westmorland Union Elementary School District, offering snacks, hydration, and more. The emergency shelter opened by the Red Cross at Wilson Junior High Gym in El Centro was closed on Monday.
The Imperial County Public Works Department was at the forefront of the response, issuing emergency road closures for several key thoroughfares. Travel was severely impacted, with closures affecting routes from Heber to Calexico and the area around Seeley. The department cited damaged power poles as the primary cause of the closures, while Kubler Road was also shut down due to a large number of hay bales blocking the pavement. Officials urged residents to find alternate routes and avoid the affected areas while crews worked to clear the roads. The list of closed roads was extended on Tuesda.
The storm's impact was also felt by local institutions and businesses. The city of El Centro closed its Aquatic Center for the remainder of Monday due to the weather forecast, with normal operations resuming on Tuesday. The Central Union High School District experienced disruptions to its phone and online services, advising residents to contact schools by visiting security booths.
The California Highway Patrol reported that State Route 86 was closed in both directions between Allen Road and State Route 78 due to flooding and debris, advising motorists to avoid the area.
In Holtville, the city acknowledged widespread power outages and was in contact with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) for updates. The Holtville Fire Department opened the Civic Center at City Hall to provide cool water and emergency power for residents with medical devices.
On Tuesday, the IID announced that power had been restored in Bombay Beach and North Shore, thanking crews for their dedication and customers for their patience.
Local colleges also felt the storm's effects. Imperial Valley College (IVC) canceled all in-person classes and services for Monday, citing severe thunderstorms and out of concern for student and staff safety. Online classes, however, continued. IVC maintenance and operations staff worked through the night to clear flooded areas, remove debris, and make repairs, allowing the campus to resume normal operations on Tuesday.
“After yesterday's severe thunderstorm, our maintenance and operations staff worked quickly to make sure the campus was safe and ready for your return,” IVC said in a statement. “Thanks to their dedication, we're able to welcome everyone back without delay.”
As of Tuesday, the cleanup and restoration efforts were ongoing, with officials continuing to monitor conditions and provide updates to the public.
EL CENTRO — Elizabeth M. Ibarra is the owner of Lizzy's Mystic Crystals, a new age business that combines jewelry design with metaphysical practices such as tarot, crystals, and essential oils.
Ibarra, widely known as a local artist, said she was raised with an interest in natural medicine, which later developed into her “side business.” She began combining her artistic skill with her love of crystals, leading to jewelry design.
She explained that her pieces are both artistic and symbolic. Crystals, she said, are connected to the earth and have long been associated with healing properties. While she emphasizes that she does not make medical claims, Ibarra said she works with some stones that encourage clarity and calm.
“The classic crystal everybody knows is quartz—clear quartz,” she said. “Quartz and clear quartz are really incredibly powerful and purifying and clarifying. I like to say it's like the self-empowerment Stone because it really helps you focus.”
Amethyst is another common stone she uses, known for its purple hue. “It has beautiful facets and it's known for meditative peace, calming, healing, and protection,” Ibarra said.
“They feel a certain way, and certain Stones have certain kinds of feelings to them,” she added.
When creating jewelry, Ibarra considers how stones work together visually. She often designs custom pieces for clients based on what type of support they are seeking, such as stress reduction or grounding.
In addition to jewelry, Ibarra does tarot readings. For her, tarot is not about predicting the future but about guidance.
“I like to use it as a tool for self-empowerment, working with archetypal imagery,” she said. "It's a way for me to focus visually to help someone with what they're working through or to clarify the question they're asking. It's, you know, it's all in the person who does the reading and how they work with it.”
She said her goal in both jewelry and tarot is to support clients in finding balance and pursuing their own path.
“What I'm all about with my work is positive energy and self-empowerment, and helping people find that balance within themselves to feel wonderful and like they're on their true path,” Ibarra said.
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