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Floods
By Brian Hixson
It was a strange feeling to be told
over the school intercom to leave your school
room and go home because of the chance that the
levee holding the San Jacinto River back might
break. Upon reaching my home I was met by my
mother who told me to get my rescue gear together
and go back to the Cottonwood Trailer park and
assist in evacuating the trailers and homes below
the levee. When I reached the base camp at the
trailer park I found that the evacuation
operation was well under way with the trailer
park almost completely empty. At base the Sheriff
was directing operation, with the Hemet and San
Jacinto Police Departments, the Hemet team, and
RMRU assisting in notifying the residents of the
danger. Fellow team member Kevin Walker and I
were assigned to check all the homes along the
old Gilman Road and tell the residents that they
might have to leave their homes if the erosion of
the levee shifted to the north side of the river.
After completing that assignment we returned to
base and reported on what residents we made
contact with. It was about 3:00 in the afternoon
when Kevin and I were told to rendezvous with
Hemet Valley Ambulance on the North side of the
river. The reason being that if the levee
breached the north side would be isolated and by
having the paramedic ambulance there, medical aid
could be given to residents. At 6:00 we were told
that we could return to base. Once back, Walt
Walker told Kevin and I that work crews were
beginning to gain on the erosion and residents
would be allowed to return to their homes. It was
a secure feeling to know that the danger was
over, little did we know what was in store for us
the next day.
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