PALM SPRINGS – A desert rainstorm stranded people in cars, flooded some homes and businesses, and knocked out power to thousands of people.

National Weather Service officials said more than an inch of rain fell in some parts of the western Coachella Valley between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday.

“It started at about 6:30 (Sunday morning),” said Sang Pao Wang, Palm Springs Fire Department battalion chief. “We responded to about 30 calls in four hours that are attributable to the rain because of flooding – people trapped in cars, roads washed out and under mud.

“This is an annual event. We just don't expect it this early in the year.”

Cathedral City was among the hardest hit areas. Some homes there were flooded at the Tramview Mobile Home Park.

“(The water) was rushing through (the complex),” said Jacquie Jaurequi, who manages Tramview and lives there with her husband, 6-month-old daughter, and 90-year-old mother. “We couldn't get out.”

Several roads remained closed late Sunday because of flood debris.

The wind and rain battered power lines, knocking out power to some 4,500 Southern California Edison customers, a company spokeswoman said. Service was restored late Sunday to all but about 625 customers, whose power should come back Monday morning, she said.