Roundup: That was close
The rain giveth and the rain taketh away
“I’ll tell you, we dodged a bullet this time.”
That’s what Assistant Fire Chief Steve Thibodeau said on Saturday morning as he looked down Morris Street, which was flooded from Crooked Goat at McKinley all the way up to the edge of the Community Center.
“The river crested about 4 am, and it’s gone down about an inch since then,” he said.
What with the rising waters and an emergency medical call in the middle of the night, he said, “I haven’t gotten much sleep.”
Thibodeau said he’d been in contact with city officials and Jennifer Adametz, the property manager of the Barlow, throughout the night. He said the Barlow seemed well prepared this time around.
The Sebastopol Times reached out to Mayor Rich yesterday about the danger of flooding from the laguna.
“When the water level reaches the 40-foot mark at the Guerneville Bridge is historically the danger point,” she said.
Since the estimated peak of the river was only 34 feet, no one was initially concerned, and then the water in the Laguna rose up and washed over Morris Street anyway.
“I don’t think those numbers are hard and fast,” said Thibodeau, who said he’d gotten 14 inches of rain at his house over the last few days. “We got so much water in so little time. We were saved by the fact that this is the first real rain we’ve gotten and so the ground could mostly absorb it.”
High water near the Community Center and Park Village
Here’s the flooding on Morris Street from in front of the Community Center. The building itself was fine.
The waters of the Laguna rose above its bed, completely covering the trail behind the Community Center and flowing into the playground near the summer bridge.
The water came up to the back of the baseball field.
Off Highway 12, near the Chevron station, the parking lot for the Laguna trail was completely underwater. As of Saturday morning, the Laguna flood waters were coming up to some trailers on the eastern side of Park Village.
GoFundMe for Trava Faust
On the Facebook Group ‘What’s Up Sebastopol,’ Sarah Inclán delivered some bad flood news about former Sebastopol resident and business owner Trava Faust, owner of the Vitality Center, who recently moved to the Russian River.
According to Inclán, Faust “is facing catastrophic loss due to flash flooding. Her new home, with everything she owns, is 6 feet underwater. If you have any resources to offer, please do. All of the tools and supplies they need for their jobs, as well as both of their vehicles, have been lost. I’m praying our community can rally around her as she and her partner begin the daunting task of recovering and rebuilding their lives.” See their GoFundMe.
Driver recovered from car found in flood waters near Guerneville
From the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department: At approximately 11:29 am on Saturday, Nov. 23, a bystander called to report a vehicle in the flood waters near Mays Canyon Road and Hwy. 116, near Guerneville. The caller believed at least one person was in the car. Patrol deputies and Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit deputies arrived at the scene with Sonoma County Fire and Monte Rio Fire. Crews were able to recover the occupant of the vehicle, but despite the quick work of first responders, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The magical laguna at floodtide
Photos by Philip Van Soelen
Meanwhile, the beauty of the Laguna de Santa Rosa continues to amaze.
Police Logs
The dispatcher who sends us Police Logs is on vacation. Police Logs will be back next week.
