Dramatic river rescue saves two women and four dogs in San Bernardino

Two women and their four dogs were rescued in dramatic fashion from a raging Southern California river Sunday after rapidly rising floodwaters turned their homeless encampment into a tiny island.

The harrowing rescue unfolded along the Santa Ana River near E Street in San Bernardino, where the women and their furry companions found themselves trapped as rushing water cut off their only route to safety.

San Bernardino County firefighters raced to the scene around 11:58 a.m. after receiving reports of the stranded group, according to the department.

Dramatic video released by San Bernardino County Fire shows swiftwater rescue crews navigating the churning river in a small inflatable boat as they make their way toward the marooned women.

With the water surging around their makeshift island, rescuers carefully loaded the women into the vessel and fitted them with life jackets before beginning the journey back to dry land.

But their four-legged companions needed a slightly different rescue plan: The small dogs, apparently less than thrilled about their unexpected whitewater adventure, were bundled into a mesh bag to keep them secure during the trip across the river.

“The small dogs were a bit too excited for the adventure, so they were secured in a mesh bag for their trip to the shore,” the fire department said in a Facebook post accompanying the dramatic footage.

Video shows firefighters paddling the women and their precious cargo back to the riverbank, bringing the terrifying ordeal to a safe conclusion.

“All were safely returned, and no injuries were reported,” officials said.

The close call came as Tropical Storm Rachel unleashed a trail of destruction across Southern California, battering coastal communities with monstrous waves and sending powerful winds whipping through inland neighborhoods.

In Long Beach, the storm’s fury tore apart sections of a century-old waterfront boardwalk, with massive waves ripping through wooden planks and seawater crashing through the battered structure.

Footage captured the relentless pounding as officials scrambled to protect vulnerable stretches of the historic walkway ahead of Saturday night’s high tide.

By Saturday evening, the damaged boardwalk had been declared off-limits, with authorities posting “No trespassing” signs to keep residents away from the dangerous area.

Elsewhere, the storm left eight homes unsafe as violent weather battered the region. One waterfront property suffered alarming structural damage, with video revealing a massive crack stretching from the home’s foundation all the way to its roof.

The frightening scenes highlighted the storm’s destructive reach, from battered beachfront properties to swollen waterways.

For the two women and their four dogs in San Bernardino, what began as a dangerous encounter with a rapidly rising river ended with everyone safely back on solid ground, thanks to the quick work of firefighters who braved the rushing waters to bring them home.

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