January 9 Storm Update - 4:45 PM

The most up-to-date County emergency resources can always be found at SocoEmergency.org

According to the 3PM NOAA Forecast, the Russian River is expected to crest at 32.1’ in Guerneville at 1AM Tuesday. While we have already experienced flooding in low-lying areas as the River rises — and while some homes & RV homesites will be impacted by this flood level — it is good news that the rain came in below predictions, and that the River will barely reach flood stage with this storm series.

Even better, the lights have come back on in many Lower Russian River communities! Mutual aid crews from Idaho and Washington states helped bring electrical service back to Guerneville, Rio Nido, and parts of Monte Rio today. We check in with PG&E multiple times a day, and will continue to advocate for service restoration for our rural areas. We know many neighborhoods in West County and throughout the North Coast are still dark. 

While we can’t directly fix your electrical infrastructure, we are doing our best to support residents who are experiencing prolonged power ouges. Specifically, we’re providing Community Support Centers to charge your devices — as well as some take-home supplies like food, water, and blankets. The County’s Community Support Centers in Guerneville, Occidental, Fort Ross and Bodega Bay will be open again tomorrow. 

The community support center locations are:

● Fort Ross State Historic Park, 19005 Highway 1

● Bodega Harbor Yacht Club, 565 Smith Brothers Road, Bodega Bay

● Former Bank of America building, 16390 Main St, Guerneville

● Sonoma Veterans Community Center, 3920 Bohemian Highway, Occidental

If you need more than a quick charge, the E.C. Kraft Building at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa continues to offer shelter to those displaced by flood and power outages. 

Thirty-eight individuals are currently in the county’s emergency shelter; the shelter has a capacity to care for 60 people, and an expansion plan is in place if needed. So if you need a place to stay because your home is at risk of flooding tonight — or if you just need a hot shower and some lights after a prolonged power outage — the Kraft Building is available. 

We can also accept your pets and livestock. Animal Services reported this morning that we are currently hosting 52 horses, 10 goats, three chickens, two pigs, four dogs and three cats.

The county has commissioned three buses to transport individuals from Guerneville, Monte Rio and Forestville to the emergency shelter located at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds. Service began this morning at 9 a.m. with buses running at 9 a.m., 12 and 3 p.m. More information is posted online on the SoCoEmergency site. This service is expected to continue through tomorrow before being reassessed.

I’ve been out in the Lower River today checking in with folks, and watching the River rise. There’s a palpable sense of relief that the River height is coming in lower than anticipated — and it was also lovely to see some blue sky today. Here are a few photos from Steelhead and the Monte Rio Community Center, plus our awesome team at the BofA building who handed out dozens of care kits to community members today.

Oh and one final reminder, because apparently there are people (at least two of them) who needed reminding: 

🦆 belong in the River.  🚗 do not. 

Turn around, don’t drown, folks! The River and her tributaries (especially Mark West) mean business! And we’re not out of this wet weather pattern — so stay alert and aware as the next round of rain and wind roll in tonight. Take care everyone.