8/15/04  162 miles of Death Valley roads wash out, some within 25 miles of Yucca Mt. All this from 1/3 inch of rain.

Only one third of an inch of rain, in a storm traversing Death Valley on Sunday, August 15th, wiped out 162 miles of 7 different roads within the National Park. Cal Trans is asking the state for $15 million to repair and replace roads. County roads will cost an additional $162,000. Other storms the same day caused road closure on CA Route 127 30 miles north of Baker CA, a daily nuclear waste transportation route for low-level and WIPP transuranic materials. Main St. through downtown Barstow closed, when the Mojave River overflowed its banks. Photos below are from the Inyo Register, 8/19/04. It is unknown when the roads and park will be fully open, or even when an full estimate of repairs will be possible.  It will be at least several more months. Many cars were washed from parking lots and roadways. Only 2 deaths occurred, but miracle stories abound from people who survived the night in spinning water-filled, rock-buffeted vehicles.
Click photos for full page view. All photos and captions scanned from the Inyo Register, 8/19/04.