Dozens of Sonoma County roads still closed after storm – Santa Rosa Press Democrat

(1 of ) Trenton Road in Healdsburg remained flooded due to recent storms, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. (Beth Schlanker / Press Democrat) (2 of ) Neeley Road in Guerneville remained flooded due to recent storms, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. (Beth Schlanker / Press Democrat) (3 of ) Trenton Road in Healdsburg remained flooded due to recent storms, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. (Beth Schlanker / Press Democrat) (4 of ) Trenton Road in Healdsburg remained flooded due to recent storms, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. (Beth Schlanker / Press Democrat) (5 of ) Firefighters use rope systems to rescue an the injured person that fell down the embankment of the Santa Rosa Creek near Pierson Street, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (Photo: Santa Rosa Fire Dept.) (6 of ) Firefighters use rope systems to rescue an the injured person that fell down the embankment of the Santa Rosa Creek near Pierson Street, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (Photo: Santa Rosa Fire Dept.) (7 of ) Firefighters use rope systems to rescue an the injured person that fell down the embankment of the Santa Rosa Creek near Pierson Street, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017. (Photo: Santa Rosa Fire Dept.)

MARTIN ESPINOZA

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT | February 10, 2017, 9:47AM

| Updated 3 hours ago.

The brunt of Thursdays storm may have passed but emergency crews are now responding to reports of downed trees, mudslides and slip-outs.

The Russian River is expected to crest at about 34 feet this afternoon two feet above flood stage.

The County issued advisory evacuation notices to residents living along the Russian River flood zone, with sheltering available at Guerneville Veterans Memorial building.

Though less urgent than last months flooding, waters are creeping into the same vulnerable locations in Guerneville, Monte Rio and other west county communities as the river rises.

Were seeing a lot of slides and a lot of slip-outs out there, said Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman.

As of Friday morning, there were 28 roadways in unincorporated Sonoma County closed thanks to this weeks storms, according to the countys website on road conditions.

Chief Max Ming of the Russian River Fire Protection District said Friday morning that he and his crews would be out surveying the back roads of the Russian River corridor, searching for washed-out roadways and mudslides.

There are several areas that have little ones, he said. Those will just pop up wherever they can.

Ming said he was relieved to hear that the river was expected to crest at just under 35 feet sometime at noon. Thats about three feet less than what was projected Thursday afternoon.

Thats a good thing, said Ming. We made some arrangements to have two high-water vehicles available should we get any 911 calls for medical emergencies.

At about 8:30 a.m., emergency crews rescued a woman who was stranded on top of her truck, which was stuck in rising waters near Trenton-Healdsburg Road and Ritchurst Place in Forestville. On Thursday evening, Santa Rosa fire crews rescued a middle-aged man who was stuck in the mud in the Santa Rosa Creek, near the Pearson Street overpass.

The most recent road closures include Alexander Valley Road at Hwy 128, due to flooding; Graton Road in Graton, due to flooding; Cherry Street at Hidden Valley Road in Guerneville, due to a slip-out; and Calistoga Road at Harville Road in Santa Rosa; due to a mudslide.

Officials recommend using Mark West Springs Road as an alternative route.

Highway 1 is closed at 3 locations along the Mendocino Coast and Highway 37, between Highway 101 and Atherton Avenue, is completely closed due to flooding.

Last nights storm may have been the cause of a power outage in downtown Santa Rosa that caused a blackout at various locations along Mendocino Avenue, from City Hall to the Sonoma County administration buildings.

Santa Rosa Junior College officials reported Friday morning that power has been restored to the main campus in Santa Rosa and all school activities have resumed. However, the schools Shone Farm remains closed due to high water levels surrounding the west county site.

The Sonoma County Office of Education announced this morning only one school closure, at Guerneville School.

Forecasters for the National Weather Service predicted a 40 to 50 percent chance of showers for Friday.

It will be minor compared to what we had yesterday, said Charles Bell, a meteorologist for the weather service in Monterey.

Bell said flood warnings are in effect at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville and in central Sonoma County, east of Santa Rosa. The last two days of rain brought 2.73 inches of rain to the Sonoma County airport and about 2 inches to downtown Santa Rosa. Guerneville saw 2.5 inches and Windsor received 2.12 inches during the past 48 hours.

Since Oct. 1, the start of the current rain season, Santa Rosa has been deluged with 46.55 inches of rain. Thats 205 percent more than the normal rainfall total of 22.67 inches for the same period. The community of Venado is at 115 inches of rain since Oct. 1.

These are very impressive numbers, said Bell.

Bell said Saturday should bring a dry period that will last until Wednesday.

Everything still points to dry weather this weekend, he said. Then it will be a return of wet weather for the second half of the week.

With the river expected to crest at 35 feet, county officials have decided to open the Emergency Operations Center, which provides updated information about local emergency services.

Hazardous road conditions should be reported to the Transportation and Public Works at (707) 565-5100, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the Sheriffs Office, (707) 565-2121, after hours.

Nearly all or parts of the Russian River parks are closed, as well as Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa. For information on parks and trails affected by the storm, visit the countys regional parks website.

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Dozens of Sonoma County roads still closed after storm - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

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