Rising waters of Kirker Creek force water rescue of 12 in Pittsburg
PITTSBURG -- The rushing waters of rain swollen Kirker Creek opened a sinkhole on the grounds of a church early Monday and forced 19 homes in a flooded neighborhood to be evacuated.
Authorities said during Sunday's intense downpours a culvert was overwhelmed by runoff and blocked. The surging water eventually created a sinkhole on the grounds of the Church of the Good Shepherd and sent four feet of water onto Harbor Street and Ventura Drive.
At 3:45 a.m., firefighters and police decided the situation had deteriorated to a point when 19 homes needed to be evacuated.
⚠️UPDATE Harbor Street closure will remain in effect until tomorrow, 1/16/23. Harbor Street is closed from Yosemite...
Posted by Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg, CA on Saturday, January 14, 2023
"Amazed that there was still this much water here," said Liz Brown, who has lived in the area for almost 50 years. "Not at all. No. Never. I was born here in Pittsburg and no, I have never ever seen it."
Brown went by the intersection of Harbor and Ventura on Monday afternoon, which has been closed off since the weekend and was still completely under water when she came by to take a video.
"I'm sure that they're somewhat overwhelmed to have something like this happen," she told KPIX about the people who just moved into the neighborhood.
Brown knows someone who used to live at one of the corners of the intersection and left a few weeks ago. She planned to send them the video. "Never has it been blocked in all those years," she said.
"It's crazy," said Francisco Avina, one of the evacuees. "I've never seen it before like this."
Firefighters decided to evacuate 19 homes and used rubber boats to get 12 residents to safety. Four stayed at a nearby shelter while the majority were able to find a place to spend the next few days with family.
Bernadine Cleaver was given a ride to higher, dry ground in a boat. She had said before the recent flooding she worried about the water coming into her home because she doesn't know how to swim.
"My house is flooded," she said but remained grateful for those who helped her get out. "I appreciate and I think everybody that's out here."
Brown said she knows we need the water but hopes any additional storms that come into the region do not have the same impact on her neighbors.
"Pray that we get a little more rain but not like we've had," she said.
Shawn Chitinis contributed reporting.