County Storm Update #2:

The latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates the Russian River will reach flood stages in Guerneville at 10 am on Thursday, February 14, 2019. It is forecasted that the Russian River will peak at 7 am on Friday, February 15th, at a crest of 37.8 feet, and will remain above flood levels until 5 am on Saturday, February 16th.

“We can’t overstate how important it is to prepare yourself for a disaster,” stated Supervisor Rabbitt. “Check your emergency kits to make sure you have 72 hours of supplies, sign up for SoCoAlert, and review your evacuation plans.”

The County will open the Emergency Operations Center in a limited capacity to provide updated information and emergency services to Sonoma County residents.

Potential Advisory Evacuations

The County may issue advisory evacuations to residents living on the Russian River floodway and its tributaries. Visit SoCoEmergency.org for tips on preparing an emergency kit and an evacuation plan.

Sandbag Pickup

Sandbags are likely available for purchase from your local hardware store. The County is providing sandbags for residents at the following locations:

• Monte Rio: the intersection of Main Street and Fir Road, by the tennis courts
• Forestville: Forestville Fire Station
• Guerneville: Park and Ride

Road Closures

Drivers are encouraged to observe road closures and use detour routes. Road closures and restrictions information for the unincorporated areas can be found at

roadconditions.sonoma-county.org. Please call Transportation and Public Works at (707) 565-5100 to report a road obstruction from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 565-2121 after hours.

Power Outages

PG&E is actively monitoring and repairing power outages. Information about outages may be found at pge.com/#outages.

Regional Parks

Numerous Regional Parks are closed to protect the safety of park goers. For the latest list of all impacted parks and trails, please visit parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

County Schools

The Sonoma County Office of Education is maintaining a list of all school closures on its website. For a complete list of school closures please visit scoe.org/storm-update.html

SoCoAlert

Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up for SoCoAlert to receive local emergency alerts and warnings. Emergency officials use the SoCoAlert Emergency Notification System to deliver incident-specific information or life-saving instructions to the precise geographic areas. To register, please go to SoCoAlert.com.

Additional Information

For additional information, visit socoemergency.org/ or call 2-1-1. The County will post pertinent information on Facebook: facebook.com/CountyofSonoma/  and Twitter: twitter.com/CountyofSonoma.

Flood Safety Tips:

• Monitor local media, sign up for alerts.
• Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
  • Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, 1 foot can sweep away a small car, and 2 feet of water can carry away most vehicles.
• If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.
  • If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Remain in the car if the water is moving.
• Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

Don’t touch or go near fallen or dangling power lines. Call 9-1-1.

Always assume that a fallen power line is live, and follow these guidelines:

• Avoid touching the downed line -- with your hand or an object, such as a stick, or broom.
  • Avoid touching anything in contact with a fallen power line, such as a car, object or equipment, or person.
• Avoid driving over a fallen power line.
• Call 9-1-1 immediately to report a fallen power line.
• If a power line touches your car, stay inside your car. Call 911 and wait for emergency help.