The Mortan family was allowed to enter their home Friday to retrieve some belongings after the week’s rains caused a concrete channel to burst, sending floodwaters and mud rushing down on the San Bernardino County community of Highland. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A nativity scene is partially buried in mud on Old Greenspot Road in Highland. Many residents narrowly avoided harm, escaping through windows and wading through the floodwaters. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighter Angel Hernandez, left, helps Monica Mortan salvage sentimental items from her mud-filled house. Despite all the destruction, Mortan found a few items in place and a few reasons to smile. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighters help Monica Mortan, 59, out of the bedroom window. Families from about 30 homes were given two hours Friday to re-enter their flooded homes and retrieve some belongings. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Monica Mortan leans on Fire Capt. Rich Logan’s shoulder and sniffles. “What are we going to do? We have no place to go,” she said. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Firefighter Angel Hernandez found the Mortan family’s cat, Boots, hiding among a pile of blankets in the flooded home. Boots had been missing for two days. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Amber Mortan is reunited with her cat, Boots. Many families have lived in the close-knit neighborhood of Highland for several generations, some since the 1800s. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Louie Varrera shovels out the mud that’s flooded his house on Tyler Street in Highland. Behind his home, his beloved Camaro, motorcycle and a boat are buried in the mud. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Prison crews dig to free a car from several feet of mud on Tyler Street, clearing the way for heavy machinery to aid in the cleanup effort. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Richard Perez helps his wife, Karie Perez, navigate several feet of mud surrounding their home on Church Street. Richard’s mother, Celia Perez, 87, was evacuated Wednesday out the window by a swift-water rescue team. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The floodwaters broke windows and upended furniture on Ypsilantha Street. See full story(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
