SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service on Thursday issued a flood warning as heavy rains fell across San Diego County.
Flood risks were strongest in North San Diego County, but in Sorrento Valley a BMW driver became trapped inside her car due to flooding.
Paula Southwick’s silver BMW got stuck in flood waters.
“It just started pouring rain. I have never seen it flood down here like this. Suddenly, it [water] was up to my doors, and I thought, there is no way out of this now,” she said.
San Diego Fire Rescue lifeguards carried Paula out of her to safety.
“It happened so suddenly we did not have the time to close off the road or anything. People drove through the water,” said Lt. Rick Romero.
Paula’s BMW had to be towed and was told it was a total loss – spoiling her holiday.
“I was on the way to my 95-year-old mother’s Thanksgiving dinner,” she said.
In Otay Mesa, at Palm Avenue and Beyer Boulevard, multiple cars were also submerged in water. A lifeguard river rescue team also responded.