Healdsburg Closes Downtown Streets 'Taking On Water'

HEALDSBURG, CA — Some downtown Healdsburg streets have been closed by flooding, city officials said Tuesday evening. Grove Street is closed from North Street to Foss Creek Circle because the roadway was starting to take on water, the city said in an email alert sent at 8:15 p.m.

"Streets in the downtown core are starting to take on water because of the continued rainfall," city officials said. "Consequently, the City has closed Grove Street — from North Street to Foss Creek Circle — to vehicular traffic."

Public Works staff were putting up barricades on streets around the plaza and elsewhere in downtown to help keep people safe.

Weather-related road closures in Healdsburg include: Piper at Healdsburg Avenue; Piper at Johnson Street; Center Street at Grant; Center Street at Mitchell; Grove Street at North Street; Grove Street at Foss Creek Circle; Kinley at Westside Road; Vine at the Roundabout; Matheson at Healdsburg Avenue; and North Street at Healdsburg Avenue.

RELATED COVERAGE: Flooding In Healdsburg: Schools Closed, Emergency Shelter Open | Flooding Widespread In Petaluma, Sonoma County

The city asked motorists to "please avoid driving in the downtown area and take alternate routes to reach your destination."

No evacuations have been issued for residents or businesses within the city limits.

Chief Jason Boaz of the Healdsburg Fire Department said during a Sonoma County press conference earlier Tuesday that the city has made preparations to open an emergency shelter should the need arise.

City staff will go "door-to-door" to evacuate if needed, the fire chief said.

The city's emergency operations center was activated earlier in the day, and personnel from the city's Fire, Police, Public Works, Utilities and other departments are monitoring the Russian River and Foss Creek water levels.

City personnel will continue to monitor the potential for flooding overnight and into Wednesday, city officials said in an email alert at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"At this point, the level of the river is projected to slightly exceed the flood-stage of 25 feet by early tomorrow morning," city officials said. "While most residents and businesses within the City limits will not experience flooding, there may be localized ponding."

Healdsburg city officials advised that a Russian River evacuation warning that went out Tuesday was for residents and businesses outside of city limits.

"You may have received an additional SoCo or NIXLE alert from the County of Sonoma about a Russian River evacuation order," city officials said. "This evacuation order is outside the city limits of Healdsburg."

However, city officials said, residents on Almond Way and nearby streets who live close to river level are at the greatest risk for flooding and should be prepared to evacuate.

"Please take precautionary measures and if you feel unsafe, we encourage you to head to higher ground," city officials said. "Due to the potential for flooding, the City has opened its emergency-operations center and will notify the community via NIXLE and other platforms of any updates or relevant information."

Earlier Tuesday, the city said out of precaution and the continued rainfall, residents and business in certain locations on North Street, Healdsburg Avenue and the plaza may want to consider taking advantage of free sandbags from the city.

"Healdsburg residents and businesses are welcome to take pre-filled sandbags as needed from several downtown locations," city officials said in a 12:10 p.m. weather alert. "Please take only what you can use. In addition, a self-fill sandbag station is open 24 hours a day at the Community Center’s big parking lot: 1557 Healdsburg Avenue."

The city supplied the below map of areas of concern for potential flooding.

• More here: SONOMA COUNTY STORM COVERAGE