County Supervisors Proclaim Local Emergency for Winter Storms and Flooding

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors declared a Local Emergency Tuesday in the midst of powerful winter storms that have battered the County with heavy rains that caused the Russian River to overflow its banks, and forcing the evacuation of thousands residents from the lower river area.

The proclamation requests that California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaim a State of Emergency, waive regulations that could hinder response and recovery efforts, and make state disaster and assistance and relief programs available for damage caused by the 2019 winter storms and flooding. The proclamation is the first step in seeking support for the response efforts that are under way and the recovery efforts that will follow.

Evacuation Information

The evacuation orders continue to remain in effect for those who received them. An estimated 3,600 residents were included in evacuation notices, as of 5 p.m. yesterday. The areas evacuated included some areas in the upper reaches of the Russian River, and many areas in the lower river including Mirabel, Guerneville and Monte Rio.

If residents are in an area where the roads are not passable due to flooding we recommend that residents shelter in place. If you have received an order to evacuate and have not yet done so please evacuate now if road conditions are safe.  

A special bus line from Graton Fire Station located at 3750 Gravenstein Highway in Sebastopol will take riders to the shelters in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.

Two evacuation shelters were opened Tuesday evening; at the Grace Pavillion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on 1350 Bennett Valley Road in Santa Rosa, and the other at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts (formerly the Sebastopol Veterans Building) located at 282 South High Street in Sebastopol. Pets are allowed at both shelters.

We are requesting individuals who have not received evacuation orders and are safe from flooding to please keep off the roads. There are numerous road closures throughout the County. Please check road conditions before travelling and do not attempt to drive through flooded areas.

Weather Update

The latest forecast shows the Russian River reaching a crest in Guerneville of 46 feet at 9 p.m. Wednesday night. Rising floodwaters overnight closed numerous roadways throughout the county. A landslide closed the 9200 block of Bohemian Highway, and rising water in the Laguna de Santa Rosa forced the closure of Highway 12 between Llano Road and downtown Sebastopol.