An intense storm dropped 2.73 inches of rain on San Diego in 24 hours, the city's wettest January day and one of the largest single-day totals since local records began in 1850.
Runoff overwhelmed drainage systems and flooded homes, streets and businesses, with especially severe damage in southeastern neighborhoods. Public-safety crews conducted more than 200 water rescues as the city declared an emergency.
The disaster exposed how aging stormwater infrastructure, geography and unequal household resources can compound a weather event. Recovery work continued long after the floodwater receded.