Bakersfield Californian article...
Posted by Frazier Frankie on August 16, 2004 at 19:26:54:
In Reply to: T-storm effects update posted by .... on August 16, 2004 at 18:39:26:
Sad news, folks, as you know. Full text at http://www.bakersfield.com/bnw/story/4878595p-4931830c.html
Death Valley flooding closes parts of 190 and 127
The Bakersfield Californian
Posted: Monday August 16th, 2004, 3:39 PM
Last Updated: Monday August 16th, 2004, 3:39 PM
At least one person has died and parts of two highways in Death Valley are closed due to flooding, California Highway Patrol officers reported.
The fatality happened when several vehicles were washed off the road near Furnace Creek Inn in the heart of Death Valley, CHP Capt. Al Carson said. Officials first discovered the fatality at mid-morning Monday.
Parts of highways 190 and 127 in the area of Furnace Creek and Death Valley Junction are closed indefinitely due to flooding, according to the CHP and Caltrans.
Other roads off of the two highways in the Death Valley National Monument are also closed, CHP reported.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas put out a flash flood warning Sunday evening for the area around Death Valley, meteorologist Charlie Schlott said.
He described the thunderstorm over Death Valley as "intense" but said the NWS has been unable to gather any rainfall amounts because they can't get through to the people who monitor rain gauges in the area.
"Nobody is answering the phone, or perhaps the phone lines are down," Schlott said.
The region has had intermittent thunderstorms since Friday, as moist unstable air feeds into the area from the south.
"While we think of Death Valley as being very dry, they do get thunderstorms in the summer from time to time," Schlott said. "The valley was just unfortunate to receive one last night. The topography is susceptible to flooding."
Crews from the CHP, the National Park Service, the Inyo County Sheriff's Department and Caltrans have been working since about 10 p.m. Sunday when the flash flooding began.
The person who was killed was in one of the washed out vehicles, Carson said. He did not know whether the victim was an adult or child or exactly when the incident occurred.
The Inyo County Coroner's staff, which was dispatched to the scene at about 10:52 a.m. Monday and could not be reached for comment.
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