The search continues for a missing elderly woman from the San Bernardino County mountains who disappeared Sunday as Tropical Storm Hilary pounded parts of Southern California.
Christie Rockwood, a 75-year-old retired Jurupa Valley School District employee, hasn’t been heard from since the weekend when the storm rocked the region. While crews remain on the search for her, the woman’s family is staying hopeful for some good news.
“She thought it was going to be just a heavy storm,” said Ethan Harrison, Rockwood’s son.
He told NBC4 he last spoke with his mother via phone call Sunday evening.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
Harrison said his mother didn’t want to leave her home since she thought the storm would be mild. He believes her trailer in Seven Oaks may have been washed away and rescuers on Wednesday said the woman's home was found in pieces miles down the Santa Ana River.
“She said the river crested and washed out the camping area,” her son said.
Rockwood's daughter, Tracey Monteverde, said it's been pure anguish not being able tp assist rescue crews.
"You know, if I think too hard I get really upset and that's not going to be helpful," Monteverde said. "If I was in better shape, I would be up there searching."
On Tuesday, search and rescue teams rescued more than a dozen people who were stuck in their neighborhood in the San Bernardino mountains after a flow of debris trapped them.
“Approximately 20 residents that remain on the opposite side of the Santa Ana River,” said Eric Sherwin of the San Bernardino County Fire Department. “They’re stranded again due to the loss of the road system that was washed away when the Santa Ana river overflowed.”
Search crews said they will continue their work through sunset Wednesday and pick up their efforts again Thursday.
For now, Monteverde and Harrison are remaining optimstic that their mother is alive and OK.
"What I'm hoping is that she is confused and found some type of shelter up because there are tiny cabins and people that are really off grid up there," Monteverde said.
“I haven’t given up hope yet but the only thing that hurts me is thinking she’s stuck in the mud trapped, cold and suffering,” Harrison said.
