Tropical Storm Hilary Update in Cathedral City

Latest on Emergency Response, Recovery & Clearing the Roads Resulting from Tropical Storm Hilary

CATHEDRAL CITY — The City’s Public Works Department, Cathedral City Police, Cathedral City Fire Department teams and supporting agencies continue to respond to several areas across the city impacted by flooding produced by Tropical Storm Hilary as we progress to the recovery stage of storm response, according to Ryan Hunt, communications and events manager.

“Our focus today is clearing the roads and improving access for our residents to be able to come and go from their homes,” Mayor Rita Lamb said in a statement. “I’ve been so inspired by this community’s ability to come together during this unprecedented tropical storm, and I assure you that our staff is working aggressively in its response to cleanup and recovery
efforts.”

Throughout the day and night on Tuesday, Public Works crews will be focusing on clearing mud from the roadways to improve restricted access to residents unable to leave their homes or neighborhoods. The following sequencing will be in place today for cleanup:

• Crews will start with Date Palm northbound lanes and will continue cleaning those with the goal to open by tomorrow afternoon and have all three lanes cleaned and swept.
• La Vista Drive from Los Gatos to Adelina Road – Crews will be cleaning northbound to Adelina Road from Horizon Drive to Date Palm Drive.
• At the same time cleaning Panorama Road up to Horizon Road and Horizon north to Vista Chino. Cleaning Vista Chino (west of Horizon to Date Palm)

Please see a list of the latest road closures from Cathedral City Police and Public Works:

• Vista Chino between Date Palm Drive and Avenida Maravilla
• Date Palm Drive between Vista Chino and 30th Ave
• Vista Chino at the wash (per the direction of Palm Springs)
• Los Gatos Road at Date Palm Drive

On Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, the Cathedral City Fire Department led a successful evacuation of 14 residents trapped inside a senior care boarding facility along Horizon Drive and Adelina Road. They were assisted by Cathedral City Police and Burrtec, which provided a dozer that proved impactful to the rescue. So far, crews have rescued 58 residents to safety during
Tropical Storm Hilary with response efforts by CCFD still under way.

Frontier Communications has repaired its fiber issue and all 911 phones lines are back up for police- and fire-related emergencies in Cathedral City. Please continue to call (760) 770-0303 for all non-emergency calls.

Due to unprecedented rainfall and flooding of local roadways, City Manager Charles McClendon declared a local emergency due to the critically dangerous impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary. The City Council of Cathedral City will ratify the emergency order at the regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Major thoroughfares including Indian, Gene Autry and Vista Chino remain closed at the wash due to severe flooding. Due to these conditions, Palm Springs Unified School District sites will remain closed today (Tuesday, Aug. 22) and Wednesday.

We ask for your patience as cleanup efforts are under way in our community. Please continue to follow the follow the City’s Facebook page for regular updates, Ryan said.