One of the many Sonora downtown businesses hit hard by the flooding was Restano Way Liquors. Owner Sonny Raj said his business was flooded twice last night.
A flash flood slammed into the Sonora area around 8:30 p.m. last night, causing torrents of mud, water and debris to rush into downtown Sonora.
Mud, three-to-four-inches thick, coated the parking area in front of the store.
The downtown Sonora business owner and his family spent much of the night mopping and cleaning debris left in the flood´s wake.
Bunti Sherma announced it was her birthday Saturday as she and others pushed the watery-ooze from around displays of soft drinks and chips and out the front door of the liquor store.
Officials say effects of the non-stop pounding rain Friday evening was felt from Mi-Wuk Village to the east to Jamestown in the west.
Sonora Police received 25 9-1-1 calls about flooding when it first began. Firefighters, volunteers and county crews filled sandbags until 1:30 this morning, according to Fire Marshall Kary Hubbard. Fire crews received more than 30 public assist calls as well last night.
Other business reporting flooding or water damage was Wal-Mart and Sanguinetti, the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, Barrons Furniture on South Stewart Street, Pure Cowboy in the Sonora Plaza, and Wilmas Cafe and Flying Pig Salon on South Washington
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 5:35 pm