Flood Aftermath: Cleanup Underway In Sonoma County (PHOTOS)

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — With floodwaters beginning to recede, disaster cleanup was already getting underway Friday in parts of Sonoma County, according to reports from the field. Patch photographer Al Francis was in Sebastopol and Guerneville Friday morning. His photos are above.

The Sebastopol area sustained flood damage from the Laguna de Santa Rosa that affected businesses in the Barlow district near downtown, while the Russian River flooded most of Guerneville.

Although state Highway 12 was closed earlier Friday, Sebastopol police announced just after 11 a.m. that the roadway has been reopened to the general public.

Bohemian Highway in the Occidental area, High School Road, Graton Road and Occidental Road in unincorporated Sonoma County also have reopened.

State Highway 116 into Guerneville was open early Friday afternoon but only to emergency personnel, media and community members with identification. CHP personnel were stationed at a roadblock and were checking motorists for the proper ID and/or credentials. (Check the status of other Sonoma County roadways at Roadconditions.sonoma-county.org/.)

EVACUATIONS LIFTED

Residents and non-residents are now allowed into flood areas along the Russian River, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said early Friday afternoon.

The sheriff's office, however is asking people who do not have legitimate business in the area to stay away. Equipment is still removing debris from roads and residents and business owners are busy cleaning their homes and properties, the sheriff's office said.

Sonoma County staff this weekend are assessing damage to an estimated 2,600 properties that were flooded when the Russian River crested at 45.4 feet Wednesday and rendered Guerneville an island.

Residences face yellow, red or green tags and residents should not enter their property until it has been assessed, the sheriff's office said.

The American Red Cross is distributing a re-entry kit that includes a bucket, rags, mop, broom and cleaning solution, and a limited number of leather gloves are also available. The kits are available 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Guerneville Park and Ride on state Highway
116, Mirabel Park and Ride on Mirabel and River roads in Forestville and the Monte Rio Community Center at 20488 Highway 116 in Monte Rio.

Sonoma County is setting up debris drop-off locations and hazardous waste will not be accepted.

PG&E is monitoring and repairing power outages, and a map is available at Pge.com/outages.

Patch will update this post Friday as more photos and information are gathered; please refresh the page for the latest.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.