The possibility of flooding was almost imminent with record-breaking snowfall going on in California. California’s snowfall, coupled with rain from Winter Storm Quiana has caused damage to more than 2,000 homes and businesses.
With the amount of snow received at higher elevations, flooding was a cause for concern for lower-elevations. On Wednesday, the threat became a reality.
California’s Russian River left its banks on Wednesday. After 25 years, the river reached a point where it could no longer hold the water that the higher elevations received and localized rain. The flooding cut off access to two towns in California and flooded more than 2,000 buildings, businesses, and homes in northern California.
The river, located in Sonoma County crested around 10 p.m. on Wednesday which cut off roadways to and from the towns of Guerneville and Monte Rio. Once the river reached over 45 feet, it could no longer contain the water, resulting in the devasting flood.
The largest flood that has ever occurred dates back to 1986 when the river reached 49.5 feet. On New Year’s Day in 1997, the river reached 45 feet in Guerneville.
Despite warnings that about 4,000 residents received to leave the town of Guernville ahead of the flooding, many did not. The Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick urged people, “We want you to leave now,” followed by:
“The roads may become impassable and you may not be able to get out. So even if you live in an area that is not flooding at this moment, you may not be able to get out when the water rises.”
Resident Jeff Bridges, co-owner of the local R3 Hotel told the Associated Press, “As long as everybody is safe, dry and warm, it’s all fine.” He emphasized the belief by stating “People in Florida have hurricanes, people in Maine have blizzards; we have floods. It’s the price we have to pay to live in paradise.”
Once the roads were submerged in floodwaters, rescue crews were called to help people who did not leave. According to Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick, about 40 rescues were performed as of late Wednesday.
