Oak forests, rugged canyons and mountain creeks make the tiny communities of Lake Hughes and Elizabeth Lake in northwestern Los Angeles County seem as far as one can get from urban commotion and pollution. Known jointly as the Lakes, it is an unincorporated region where people get by on self-reliance and mutual aid. A large welcome sign planted directly on the San Andreas Fault proudly states: “The Lakes, Where Nature is Your Neighbor.” On Friday, as county crews used heavy machinery to remove rocks, debris and toppled trees that blocked mountain roads after heavy rain triggered flooding, residents found compassionate neighbors to help mop up mud and salvage belongings in flood-ravaged yards.

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