Flooding In Healdsburg: City Issues Declaration Of Emergency

HEALDSBURG, CA — The city of Healdsburg Wednesday afternoon closed its evacuation shelter and emergency operations center as the water level of the Russian River continued to fall, city officials said in an update.

"The latest winter storm is now behind us," city officials said. "The Russian River crested at 5:45 a.m. this morning at 26.84 feet — beyond the 'minor' flood level of 23 feet and below the 'moderate' flood level of 27 feet. The river level has been slowly receding ever since. ... The City is now in clean-up mode."

According to a 3:35 p.m. update from the city:

— As of 2:45 p.m., the river-level was measured at 25.47 feet; that's more than a foot lower than the river's highest level of 26.84 feet for this weather event. That high level was recorded at 5:45 a.m.
— The City closed its evacuation center and its emergency-operations center this afternoon as they are no longer needed.
— Streets are open throughout the City with the exception of streets such as Presidential Circle and Kennedy Lane that hug the river. There is still standing water in these neighborhoods. In addition, the Old Redwood exit off of U.S. 101 may still be inaccessible.
— The main weather-related issue at this point is the water reclamation facility, which took on several feet of water. Staff continue to monitor the facility and once the waters have receded enough, the plant will be assessed and any damage will be repaired.
— The City issued a declaration of emergency at 9 a.m. due to the flooding and inclement weather. Declaring an emergency will allow Healdsburg to expedite the process to help repair City infrastructure damaged by the flooding.

Earlier Wednesday, all Healdsburg Unified School District schools were closed and residents of multiple Healdsburg neighborhoods were being asked to shelter in place because of flooding.

The city of Healdsburg sent out a notification at about 5:30 a.m. stating flooding was being experienced in the neighborhoods along Heron and Almond between S. Fitch Mountain Road and the Russian River, and in the neighborhoods along Presidential and Kennedy.

"Residents should shelter in place due to water in the streets," city officials said.

A National Weather Service flood warning for the Russian River near Healdsburg and near Guerneville continues through late Wednesday night.

The city of Healdsburg has opened an emergency shelter at Foss Creek Community Center, 1557 Healdsburg Ave. Anyone who needs assistance should call 431-3377, according to the city.

Streets in the downtown area were closed overnight, and flooding closed U.S. Highway 101 at the southbound exit to Dry Creek Road and at the on-ramp at the southbound Old Redwood Highway exit, according to the city.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday morning that the unincorporated community of Guerneville in Sonoma County had been surrounded by water and was no longer accessible via land. Sheriff's officials said the area was landlocked around 4:45 a.m. as all roads leading to the community are flooded.

According to forecasters with the NWS San Francisco Bay Area, while widespread rainfall continues to diminish, rain showers will be possible through early Thursday morning.

"Any additional rainfall, coupled with runoff from previous rainfall will continue to result in flooding of the Russian and Napa Rivers," weather officials said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Flooding Widespread In Petaluma, Sonoma County
• Healdsburg Closes Downtown Streets 'Taking On Water'

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.