Two women and four dogs rescued from rapidly rising California river amid monster storm

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.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story 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 ...