The community is coming up for air after weeks of being pummeled by colossal snowstorms. While there is relief in the snow accumulation, local agencies are warning that vigilance is still needed as Old Man Weather does an incredible about-face, heading straight into a bout of warm weather. Temperatures are predicted to rise every day this week, with a high of 60 degrees on Thursday’s forecast. Between the warm weather and the current massive snow levels, the situation is ripe for flooding.
With the devastating effects of the 1997 flood still fresh in people’s minds, our local agencies decided to address the threat head-on. A slew of local agencies, including North Tahoe Fire, Placer County Sheriff, Truckee Fire, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans, Placer County, Nevada County, Red Cross, and all of the public utility districts, met twice last week via conference call to form emergency plans.
‘Cooperation is important,’ said Dick Minto, road supervisor for Washoe County Roads. ‘Everyone pulls together to help when a situation like flooding arises.’
Thankfully, unlike the 1997 situation, heavy rain is not in the immediate forecast, which would greatly increase the chance of devastating floods. Still, local emergency preparedness personnel are stressing the importance of being prepared.
Most importantly, regional fire districts are encouraging residents to turn on their radios or TVs for up-to-date information. Also, be aware that flash flooding can occur and do not wait for instructions to move.
If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips from the California Emergency Management Agency:
• Do not walk through moving water: Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas: If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, so long as you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.
Residents near rivers should keep a close eye on rising water levels, said Gene Welch, public information officer for the Truckee Fire Protection District. And if you’re on the road, drivers need to use common sense when navigating flooded roads.
‘If a road is covered with standing water, don’t drive through the water,’ Welch said. ‘You wouldn’t be able to see if something is under the water, if the road is washed out, or if a pot hole has opened into a sinkhole.’
According to a March 28 Sacramento Bee article, Gov. Jerry Brown is expected this week to officially declare California’s drought over. Statewide snowpack is at 165 percent of average for the date, says the report.
See below and right for sidebars with key information in preparing for potential floods.
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Protect Your Home with Free Sand Bags
Local agencies provide sand bags in the event of flooding. The pickup points are strategically placed in venues that are open 24 hours a day.
North Lake Tahoe
The North Tahoe Fire District hands out empty sandbags provided by Placer County. Residents can go to these fire stations to pick up their sandbags:
• King’s Beach Station 52, 288 Northshore Boulevard (Hwy 267), Kings Beach, (530) 546-3686.
• Homewood Station 53, 5425 West Lake Boulevard (Hwy 89), Homewood, (530) 525-7609
Residents can fill the bags with sand at the Placer County Sheriff’s Office site just east of Tahoe City at Burton Creek, 2501 North Lake Boulevard (Hwy 28), Tahoe City, (530) 581-6300.Info: Dave Zaski, North Tahoe Fire public information officer, (530) 308-1050
Truckee
Sand bags are normally available at Station 92, Truckee Fire District Gateway Station, at 11473 Donner Pass Road, during flooding conditions. More information and alternative sites for sand bags can be found on the Truckee Fire Protection District website, truckeefire.org.
Incline Village
Sand bags are available at the Washoe County Sheriff’s department, 625 Mt. Rose Highway, Incline Village, (775) 832-4110. Residents can pick up sand at the Nevada Department of Transportation at 635 Mt. Rose Highway, Incline Village.
