Community comes together to help flooded restaurant

Provided.

As a business owner you do your best to prep and plan for everything that can happen. There are some things you just can't plan for.

Recently equipment failed at my restaurant, J's Hideaway in Old Town Tehachapi. A line busted off of a vendor machine while we were closed and started to fill the restaurant with water.

When our head cook, Rosa, came in a little after 5 a.m., she walked into two inches of water flooding the entire downstairs. I was immediately called and I rushed over as fast as possible. We were able to stop the flow of water from the line and did everything we could to get the water out. I will be honest, I was a complete wreck. I couldn't get my head straight to get moving onto the next step.

I put out a social media post that the restaurant was closed and the next thing I knew Cliff Suazo from The Dog House Saloon and Savannah's Old Town Saloon came in and we came up with a game plan. We got shop vacs, towels and moved everything outside as fast as possible.

Our neighbor, Sam Tapia of 1st Choice Paint, came with fans. Then came 5150 Dieselz who brought big floor fans, and some of their members stayed with me all day. We got the floor as dry as we could and Cody Strahan with Strahan Carpet cleaned everything up as best as possible.

5150 Dieselz volunteers helped bring furniture and equipment back inside and we got the restaurant back on its feet. I was so overwhelmed with the fact that so many came to our rescue, it was a beautiful feeling.

I've never experienced something like this and I will truly never forget it, and to all who showed their love and support to my family in this situation. I truly love Tehachapi and the amazing people in this town.

Thanks go out to the following, I apologize if I've forgotten anyone: Cliff Suazo, Robert Peralta, Debbie Peralta, Sam Tapia, Cody Strahan, Jim Browne, Russell Miller, Stacey Miller, Ken Young, Mike Brock, Vickie Brock, Phillip Wilson, Jim Weinberg, Zane Welsh, Mike Gregory, Megan Gaura and Marilin Smith.