Sonoma County Storm Coverage: Russian River Evacuations Ordered

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — As the latest storm drenches the North Bay, flooding the already-overwhelmed rivers, creeks and streams of Sonoma County, evacuation orders took effect Tuesday afternoon for residents of communities along the Russian River. Evacuation shelters opened Tuesday at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 S. High St. in Sebastopol, and at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds Grace Pavilion at 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa.

The river was expected to rise above flood stage at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said mandatory evacuation orders went into effect at 3:50 p.m. for the communities of: Asti, Bailhache, Chianti, Guerneville, Guernewood, Guernewood Park, Hacienda, Jenner, Jimtown, Korbel, Lytton, Northwood, Northwood Lodge, Rolands, Sheridan, Duncans Mills, El Bonita, Mirabel Heights, Mirabel Park, Monte Rio, Montesano, Summerhome Park, Vacation Beach and Wilson Grove.

A free shuttle is running from the Guerneville Veterans War Memorial at 16320 Church St. in Guerneville to the shelters.

"Evacuate now, please do not wait until it's too late," the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said in a news conference streamed on Facebook.

The city of Healdsburg said the evacuation orders do not currently affect its residents but that if people are concerned for their safety, they should move to higher ground: Healdsburg Monitoring Russian River, Foss Creek Flood Levels

Various roads and schools in unincorporated Sonoma County were closed Tuesday because of flooding, according to the county's Department of Transportation and Public Works.

A mudslide containing logs and trees is blocking several hundred yards of the Bohemian Highway in Monte Rio, Monte Rio Fire Protection District Chief Steve Baxman said Tuesday afternoon.

The 6-8-feet deep slide in the 9500 block of Bohemian Highway in west Sonoma County occurred around 1 p.m., Baxman said. Flood waters also have closed another section of the Bohemian
Highway, which is now expected to be closed for weeks, Baxman said.

No homes were crushed by the slide and no injuries have been reported, Baxman said.

The Alexander Valley Unified School District, Geyserville Unified School District, Montgomery Elementary School District in Cazadero and Guerneville School District were all closed because of flooding on bus routes, county officials said.

A flood advisory for the North Bay counties of Sonoma, Napa and Marin was expected to remain in effect until midnight, according to National Weather Service's San Francisco Bay Area office.

The NWS said some locations that will experience flooding include: Santa Rosa, Napa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Novato, Rohnert Park, Windsor, American Canyon, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Cloverdale, Fairfax, Sebastopol, Cotati and Sausalito.

• RELATED COVERAGE: PG&E Addresses Storm-Related Power Outages In Sonoma County

Meteorologists said flood waters reached major flood stage Tuesday morning on Willow Brook near in unincorporated Penngrove, with widespread flooding likely downstream.

In addition, areas around Laguna de Santa Rosa, Colgan Creek, Santa Rosa Creek, Mark West Creek, Sonoma Creek and other tributaries that flow into the Russian and Petaluma rivers are at the highest risk of flooding.

The flood advisory was first issued early Tuesday morning.

The Russian River was forecast to go above the flood stage of 32 feet at 7 p.m. Tuesday and reach 45.9 feet at 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Much of downtown Guerneville floods at the 46-foot stage, the post office begins to flood and River Road in Rio Nido floods, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center that monitors the Russian River.

The river's flood of record is 49.5 feet on Feb. 18, 1986.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Office shared a photo of the Russian River taken at Monte Rio Bridge, "where we usually have a beach."

Late Tuesday morning was when the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office initially said people living near the Russian River should evacuate.

"We are recommending you evacuate now if you live near the Russian River," the sheriff's office said at 11:37 a.m. Tuesday via a Nixle alert. "More information is available at www.socoemergency.org or at 707-565-3856. The website includes a map of areas that are expected to flood."

Residents are asked not to call the sheriff's office's dispatch center unless it is an emergency.

California Highway Patrol officials said state Highway 121 is closed at state Highway 12 in Sonoma County.

"It is now closed due to flooding...again," CHP Napa said on social media. "Since this happens when we get big storms, most people know the alternate routes. Closure is at SR-121 and Eighth Street East and SR-121 at SR-116. Be ready for a longer drive though 'Schellville' [Tuesday] and most likely Wednesday."

In Petaluma, southbound Stony Point Road has been closed since early Tuesday because of flooding, the Petaluma Police Department advised in a Nixle alert.

"There is further flooding near Petaluma Blvd North and Gossage Ave," Petaluma police said. "Expect further flooding throughout the day. Heavier rains are expected this evening, please expect delays during the commute hours. Sand bags are available on the north end of Hopper Street. If you observe flooded streets or downed trees please call the Public Works at 707-778-4303. Motorists are encouraged to drive slower in the wet conditions and always use your headlights and windshield wipers."

In Rohnert Park, Rohnert Park Expressway/Rancho Verde Ci, Redwood Drive/Martin Avenue and Martin Avenue/Labath Avenue are all closed due to flooding, the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said early Tuesday.

Friedman's Home Improvement sent a statement Tuesday morning saying it is giving out 20 free sandbags to anyone in need in Sonoma County during flood warnings and/or flood alerts.

"The first 20 bags are free, additional bags can be purchased for 32 cents each," Friedman's said. "The sand is FREE for sandbag use only. All materials needed to fill bags are available in our yard at each location. Customers are responsible for filling their own bags."

Sandbags are available at its three Sonoma County locations:

• 4055 Santa Rosa Ave. in Santa Rosa (707-584-7811)
• 1360 Broadway in Sonoma (707-939-8811)
• 429 N. McDowell Blvd. in Petaluma (707-774-8400 )

And in Mendocino County at:

• 1255 Airport Park Blvd. in Ukiah. (707-468-7811)

Patch will update this post as more information is gathered; please refresh the page for the latest.

City News Service contributed to this report.