Two reported missing in California flash floods

John Honesto, 67, has been identified as one of the two people reported missing in California’s devastating flash floods

Two people have been reported missing since Thursday in Mariposa County, California after dangerous flash-floods rushed through the town.

Search crews were dispatched to locate the victims, one male and one female, according to Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office as told to the Modesto Bee.  

The Sheriff’s office have not released names or descriptions of the two victims that went missing when more than four inches of rain poured in the Sonora area of California, near Mariposa County.

But the male, who went missing Thursday, has been identified as John Honesto, 67, by local newspaper The Union Democrat. 

The woman, who is yet to be identified, was reported missing Thursday afternoon as well in the Catheys Valley area, 20 miles northeast of Merced. 

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Kristie Mitchell says the incidents are separate. 

Over four inches of rain pounded from March 20 to March 23 in the Sonora area, causing creeks and waterways to swell, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Courtney Obergfell.

The storm also caused the Moccasin Creek Dam in Mariposa County to leak, sending water rushing onto the Highway 132 causing major flooding.   

Honesto, center, pictured with his daughter Nathalie Honesto, right, who took to Facebook to share a plea for his search after he went missing on Highway 132 Thursday

Honesto, center, pictured with his daughter Nathalie Honesto, right, who took to Facebook to share a plea for his search after he went missing on Highway 132 Thursday

She shared an update on the search Sunday saying Honesto is yet to be traced

She shared an update on the search Sunday saying Honesto is yet to be traced

Honesto was last seen driving a black Toyota Avalon on Thursday. 

His empty car was found on the washed-out Highway 132 miles more than a mile downstream buried in sand and debris Friday, according to his daughter Nathalie Honesto’s Facebook page.

He went missing around 12:30pm near Greeley Hill.

The Tuolumne County resident is retired and worked as a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officer in Stockton prior to his retirement, around 10 to 15 years ago, according to The Union Democrat. 

In his spare time post-retirement he was a former assistant wrestling coach at Sonora High school.  

This month's storms have destroyed homes and soaked communities such as Santa Barbara (above) in inches of rain, causing flash flooding that caused two people to go missing

This month’s storms have destroyed homes and soaked communities such as Santa Barbara (above) in inches of rain, causing flash flooding that caused two people to go missing

Firefighters took part in regional searches on Wednesday in the wake of devastating rains that caused flash flooding in Montecito Creek (above) in California

Firefighters took part in regional searches on Wednesday in the wake of devastating rains that caused flash flooding in Montecito Creek (above) in California

Streams swelled due to the heavy rains that caused highways to be overrun with water and closed due to emergency flooding in Ojai, California (above)

Streams swelled due to the heavy rains that caused highways to be overrun with water and closed due to emergency flooding in Ojai, California (above)

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department released this warning in light of the flash flood

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department released this warning in light of the flash flood

Nathalie took to Facebook Sunday to share that the search for her father continues. 

‘Just wanted to put up another update…we are continuing to search for my dad. Mariposa County Sheriffs have been absolutely amazing in the search and have been so kind. Other counties have been supplementing resources such as search and rescue teams, search dogs, and a helicopter. We’ve been so grateful for the outpouring of love from friends and our community. We are so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderfully caring people. We thank you for the prayers and continue to keep hope as we continue to search,’ she wrote Sunday evening. 

Multiple county authorities have launched search parties for both victims, including the use of search dogs and highway patrol helicopters.    

Although the rains are scheduled to stop, California now grapples with the floods that drench communities under inches of water and debris.      



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