Monday, January 9, 2017

Residents on Edge as Flooding Worsens in California, Nevada; Hundreds of Homes Expected to Flood Along Russian River

Sean Breslin, Eric Chaney and Pam Wright
Published: January 9,2017

The bad news kept coming Monday in California and Nevada after days of heavy rainfall swamped parts of both states, killing at least three people.
In Sonoma County, California, a rising Russian River meant 550 homes and businesses are expected to flood before the waterway crests, according to SFGate. Schools were closed Monday due to the flooding in that county and voluntary evacuations were underway in low-lying areas.
South of the river, the town of Forestville reported flooding from the swollen river. In the Mirabel Park mobile home community, residents like Bruce Harper quickly moved their mobile homes to safer ground as the floodwaters began to rise, SFGate also reported.
"I was hoping that the worst of the storm was going to go down south, but it hit us head-on," Harper told SFGate.
(FORECAST: Atmospheric River Event Sets Up Over California)
Meanwhile, in Nevada, residents voluntarily evacuated at least 400 homes, impacting some 1,300 residents in a south Reno neighborhood Sunday as the Truckee River breached its banks. While no injuries were reported, many area roads were closed, according to the Associated Press.
The Truckee River was expected to peak about six feet above flood stage on Monday in neighboring Sparks, and several feet of water was likely to flood an industrial area where 25,000 people work.

Northern California: Mudslides Close Roads

Three people have died in California, where flooding rains shut down roadways and created hazardous travel conditions throughout the central portion of the state.
A cab driver died after his vehicle slid off a rain-slicked road into the estuary near Oakland International Airport along Doolittle Drive at Langley Street, SFGate reported.
Although the cause of the accident was not immediately known, Oakland Police Officer Hector Chavez told SFGate, "it’s very likely the weather had something to do with it. The roads are wet, and he most likely slipped off the road."
On Saturday, a 20-foot tree fell in 50 mph winds at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in San Ramon, ABC 7 News reported, striking and killing the woman as she walked on the golf cart trail with her husband.
"It wasn't a very big tree," San Ramon Valley Fire Chief Dan McNamara told the station. "It was something you wouldn't think would be an issue, but unfortunately with the circumstances, everything lined up to end in a tragic event."
(MORE: Storms Topple a California Icon)
Also on Saturday, slick roads apparently caused the death of a motorist on eastbound Interstate 80 in Pinole, the Mercury News reported. The California Highway Patrol said the driver of a black Ford Mustang was killed when his car spun out of control and crashed into a tree. It was raining at the time of the accident, CHP spokesman Sean Wilkenfeld told the Mercury News. The victim’s identity was not immediately released.
Motorists were left stranded Sunday on flooded roads as heavy rains from the massive winter storm moved into Northern California. Rescues were performed in Marin and Sonoma counties, including a rescue along U.S. 101, where several people were saved from submerged vehicles, according to the AP. No injuries were reported.
Interstate 80 was closed due to a mudslide and downed power lines, and a wind gust of 173 mph was clocked in the Sierras.
There have also been widespread avalanches on Carson Pass and the Sacramento Weir gates will open Monday for the first time since 2006 to alleviate the flood waters in the Yolo Bypass, according to KCRA.com.
Roads leading into Yosemite National Park have been closed, authorities say, and rescues were underway in the Hidden Valley area Sunday.
View image on Twitter
More storm damage in California: Rockslide on El Portal Road (Hwy 140) outside of @YosemiteNPS.

Sonoma County Sheriff's deputies had to rescue two motorists from their stranded vehicles on Old Redwood Highway near Windsor and at least one from Highway 101 Sunday morning, where flooding shut down the northbound lane of the freeway early Sunday morning. The California Department of Transportation later closed the entire highway for a 4-mile stretch south of Healdsburg due to flooding.
Another water rescue was underway just before midday Sunday when Rancho Adobo fire crews worked to rescue several people trapped inside a motor home on Old Redwood Highway near Penngrove. CHP was forced to rescue a driver who tried to negotiate a flooded road in Sacramento County midday on Sunday.
On Monday, Los Angeles County health officials advised swimmers and surfers to stay clear of the ocean for at least three days because of dangerous storm runoff. According to the AP, seawater bacteria levels increases significantly during and after rainstorms as contaminants in storm runoff enter the ocean via storm drains, creeks and rivers.
While common following heavy rains, the advisory remains in place through Thursday morning.

Nevada: State of Emergency

Numerous roads had major damage from rushing floodwaters, and crews had their hands full trying to get those roads reopened, Nevada Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Meg Ragonese said. According to a release from the DOT, the Pyramid Lake area had the most extensive damage to roads, with several washouts and one eroded off a 50-foot cliff.
The state DOT was keeping a full list of closures on its website.
The Nevada National Guard has deployed high-water vehicles to help evacuate residents in one town east of Reno as well as shuttle damage assessment teams to Sparks, the AP said.
A truck trapped in water on Clear Water Way in Sparks.

According to the Reno Gazette-Journal, weather experts are predicting the flood to be the worst in Northern Nevada since an event in 1997, which caused upwards of $600 million in damage.
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval declared a state of emergency Saturday and urged all non-essential state government workers to stay home Monday, the AP also reported.

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