Crews Clear Roads and Assist Storm-Impacted Homes in Next Phase of Recovery Efforts in North Shore
October 23, 2026
NORTH SHORE, Calif. - Recovery efforts continue in North Shore and the Eastern Coachella Valley as Riverside County crews and disaster-response partners work to clear storm debris, assess roadway damage and assist residents whose homes were impacted by Tropical Storm Rachel.
From October 20-22, Team Rubicon assisted residents at four North Shore properties, removing mud, damaged household items, furniture, carpeting and other debris from homes.
“It was excellent. They were very generous, did an excellent job, and were kind, quick and organized. They communicated very well with me, letting me know step by step what they were going to do and why they were doing it. I’m very happy with their service. I felt I could trust them. They did a great job,” said Diana, a North Shore resident.
At one residence, crews removed mud and damaged belongings from two bedrooms, a laundry room and hallway, as well as the bottom two feet of drywall from three bedrooms, the laundry room and hallway. At two additional homes, crews removed flood-damaged carpeting from multiple bedrooms.
“Our recovery efforts continue every day, both on our roads and directly at the homes of residents who were impacted by this storm,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “I am grateful to Team Rubicon for stepping in and doing the difficult, hands-on work to help our families clean out their homes, and to our Transportation Department crews who continue working throughout the area to clear our roads and assess the repairs that are still needed. We have made significant progress, but we know there is more work ahead.”
Team Rubicon also worked to assist a fourth household with the removal of flood-damaged furniture and other belongings.
“Team Rubicon responds to disasters in communities across the country because of our Greyshirt volunteers, who all felt grateful to serve the communities of Mecca and North Shore. As Incident Commander for this operation, I am thankful we could partner with Riverside County EMD to serve families affected by Hurricane Rachel,” stated Kelly Saldarriaga, Team Rubicon Operations Associate for Southern California.
Meanwhile, the Riverside County Transportation Department continues storm-debris removal and roadway cleanup throughout the Eastern Coachella Valley, particularly in the North Shore area. Approximately 15 to 20 miles of County roadways were impacted by the storm, with preliminary damage estimates ranging from $4 million to $5 million across the affected area.
All County roadways are currently passable for passenger vehicles, with the exception of Box Canyon Road, which remains closed until further notice.
County crews began roadway sweeping operations this week, and construction teams are scheduled to assess roadway damage next week to identify necessary repairs. Cleanup efforts remain ongoing.
The latest work builds upon the County's response that began in the early morning hours of October 10, when the Riverside County Emergency Management Department (EMD) responded to the North Shore and Mecca area following intense rainfall and hazardous water and mud flows. A shelter-in-place advisory was issued in coordination with Riverside County Fire Department to help keep residents safe.
Initial assessments identified 14 homes with reported water or mud intrusion, primarily affecting living areas, garages and carports. Several private vehicles were also surrounded by mud and debris.
EMD has coordinated recovery assistance with TODEC, the Diocese of San Bernardino, American Red Cross, Team Rubicon and Riverside County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) to support residents and help clear mud and debris from private properties.
Residents are encouraged to report storm-related damage by calling 211 and to visit RivCoReady.org/Storms for information and resources related to storm recovery and preparedness.
