Flood waters begin to recede as residents shift to cleanup

By: JUSTIN M. NORTON - Associated Press | Sunday, January 1, 2006 8:19 PM PST ∞

GUERNEVILLE ---- Sporadic downpours caused flooding and evacuations in this water-logged wine country community as a second winter storm pushed through the area Sunday.

Elsewhere in Northern California, residents shifted into cleanup mode a day after the first storm sent floodwaters into cities and spawned mudslides that forced evacuations and shut down highways.

Meanwhile, Southern California braced for the storms expected to hit there Sunday night where authorities have issued a flash flood watch for areas left blackened by recent wildfires.

The Russian River in Guerneville crested early Sunday at 42 feet ---- 10 feet above flood stage ---- sending water gushing into low-lying areas of the city and flooding an unknown number of homes, but sparing the downtown area, Linda Eubanks of Sonoma County's Office of Emergency Services, said Sunday.

Officials continued to urge some residents to evacuate and about 50 people were camped out in three local shelters, Eubanks said.

Maureen Weinstein hosted a festive gathering for 10 friends and family members outside her Guerneville home, where the group was shooting off fireworks, drinking wine and listening to Motown music Saturday night.

"We live through (floods) a lot," Weinstein said, as the muddy river waters hovered just 10 feet away. "We're not that concerned this time because this year we have power and the Internet. I can monitor the water. It's wonderful."

Officials expected the Russian River to shrink back within banks by early this morning.

Damage assessments were expected to begin later Sunday, said Steve Sharpe of the Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services.

In the Marin County town of San Anselmo, about 20 miles north of San Francisco, streets were coated with mud as residents began the arduous task of drying out their flooded homes and business owners sifted through mounds of damaged goods.

"We got hit very hard. It's all pretty soggy and muddy up here," town administrator Debbie Stutsman said Sunday. "People are shoveling out today."

A creek poured over its banks Saturday flooding about 50 downtown businesses under some four feet of water, Stutsman said, adding that initial assessments put the damage at about $10 million. Two people rescued from the rising water there Saturday were hospitalized with hypothermia.

Water levels also were dropping Sunday in the Napa River at Napa, near the heart of wine country, where the river reached 5 feet above flood stage, sending a surge of water into a several-block area of downtown.

Napa officials estimated that about 1,000 homes and an unknown number of businesses were flooded. A layer of mud and debris coated city streets Sunday.

The Napa River also inundated thousands of acres of wine country land throughout Napa County, officials estimated.

Saturday's storm dumped an average of 4 to 5 inches in Northern California, with parts of Marin County recording more than 7 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Parts of Napa County were drenched by up to 9 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.

Officials were monitoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta on Sunday in anticipation of an afternoon high tide that could push waters to near flood stage, said Pete Weisser of the Department of Water Resources.

On Saturday, crews opened portions of a flood wall, allowing the swollen Sacramento River to flow into a bypass around downtown.

"The river control systems are functioning as designed," Weisser said Sunday.

The Weather Service predicted another 2 inches would fall in Northern California Sunday.

In Southern California, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for areas left blackened by recent wildfires. There were also high wind watches for the mountains and a surf advisory along the coast.

The heaviest rain in that region was expected Sunday night and early today, when officials estimate up to 4 inches could fall in the coastal valley and 8 inches in the mountains.

Saturday's storm dropped nearly an inch of rain in downtown Los Angeles and higher amounts in the foothills and mountains.

More than 600,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers from Bakersfield to the Oregon border experienced power outages during the storm.

Power was restored to most customers but 110,000 remained without service early Sunday, said David Eisenhauer, another PG&E spokesman.

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada about 25 miles west of Reno reopened Sunday after the entire roadway was shut down for a time by mudslides. At least one westbound lane was expected to open by late Sunday afternoon.

In Novato, crews continued working Sunday to repair a 100-foot section of a levee that broke a day earlier. No homes were threatened.

At least six helicopter rescues were performed in Sonoma County on Saturday. Firefighters rescued two people from a mobile home park, where rushing water washed at least one home off its foundation.

Also, one man was killed by a falling tree in Vacaville, and a California Highway Patrol officer died in a traffic collision Saturday night in the Santa Cruz mountains, said CHP spokesman Sgt. Wayne Zeise.