Storm Pounds NorCal Knocking Out Power, Flooding Streets And Toppling Trees
SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) -- Residents of Northern California were hit hard early Sunday as a powerful storm drenched the area with yet another round of pounding rain and strong winds.
Thousands are without power all over Northern California, dozens of trees toppled and streets flooded as storm drains were overwhelmed by the amount of water dumped by the third storm in the week.
An entire mobile home park was flooded in Citrus Heights. Some trailers at the park at 5867 Auburn Blvd had knee-deep water inside and residents had to wade through waist-deep water in the park to escape.
Street flooding was a problem all over the Valley. After a line of heavy rain crossed the Sacramento-area around 9:00 Sunday morning, surface streets began flooding due to blocked storm drains.
City crews literally had to put up flares in some areas and move on to the next flooded area to try and warn drivers. Still, some motorists attempted to drive through the standing water. Tow truck drivers were in high demand to help out those motorists who didn't make it through the massive puddles.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department says their communications center was being inundate with 9-1-1 calls from people "inconvenienced" by the wet weather conditions. They says residents are asking to be provided with transport from their homes, be provided with sandbags, etc. However, the department says most of the residents are not in immediate danger. They are asking residents to "empower themselves" and seek refuge somewhere until the weather breaks later today and reserve 9-1-1 calls for emergencies.
The winds associated with the storm also wreaked havoc downing dozens of trees. A large Oak tree fell around 5:30 Sunday morning in North Highlands crushing a man's truck and blocking the street in front of the home. City crews responded but could only clear the street before heading to the next downed tree. The truck owner was told they would be back to help remove the rest of the tree later.
Several sections of Highway 50 were flooded. Caltrans says the pumps are working but were overwhelmed by the amount of rain.
The latest storm system moved into the region Saturday night and was expected to force several Northern California rivers over their banks.
The Napa River, north of San Francisco, a river with a history of flooding, was expected to top its banks some time Sunday afternoon.
The Russian River, another river that frequently floods was expected to flood near the Sonoma County community of Guerneville Monday morning.
To the south, forecasters say as much as one inch of rain per hour fell on parts of the Santa Cruz mountains early Sunday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for parts of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties.
