Stanislaus County has deployed the Central Valley Incident Management Team to help address flooding and other potential hazards after declaring a state of emergency. Related | Full storm coverage hereDeclaring emergencies allows government agencies to increase the number of resources put toward repairs and other forms of relief following disasters.Water levels in surrounding creeks and rivers like the Tuolumne River, Dry Creek and Orestimba Creek are rising with ongoing rainfall and are expected to reach flood levels by Monday night going into Tuesday morning. Roughly 55 patients were evacuated from the San Luis Care Center in the city of Newman, which is one of the areas emergency officials have been closely monitoring due to flooding risks. Multiple ambulances were there to help transfer the patients to safer locations in Modesto, Merced and Madera. But even residents not directly in the path of waterways say the rainfall is bringing them much concern, like some in Modesto.Modesto city crews powered up their pumps to remove large pockets of water flooding local streets. One such scene at Carver and Teresa streets was just one of many throughout the city. Flooding concerns have many on high alert, but resident Thomas Adkins said the flooding didn’t seem to stop many drivers from speeding through the slippery roads. He said he had a close call himself as a result.”It took me by surprise, it could’ve been a split second that we all — three lanes — could’ve been in an accident.”He is hoping drivers will slow down and avoid the roads on the oncoming days.”If I can spread the word about people being safe, that’s what I want to do,” Adkins said. David Roush was outside his home for most of the day, keeping an eye on the fluctuating water levels by his apartment. He was also watching drivers coming through the flooding on the corner of the street, fearing someone might get stuck and need help. Roush has stocked up on emergency food and supplies and is currently on standby to help anyone he knows who might be in need. “I’ve got friends that have already told me that if we get flooded out, they’re heading over to my house,” Roush said.With ongoing storm impacts, emergency crews have a long road ahead.Toppling trees have many residents on edge in the Roselawn Avenue and South Avenue neighborhood, where one has already taken down a powerline.Resident Gabriel Lopez said he’s grateful no one has been hurt so far but worries more trees will be coming down over the next few days his neighborhood is more at-risk because of old trees along their streets.”We can just walk nearby and hear them crackling,” Lopez said.Another concern he pointed out is that many trees around the city have branches intertwined with wires from powerlines. “I think before the winter, it’d be kind of good for them to go around and see where the powerlines are at,” Lopez said. “And just trim off the branches so if they do fall, they don’t hit the power line.”Emergency crews say they’ve received at least 300 calls for downed trees but have not seen many live wire incidents. So far, no one has been reported injured in the county.Stanislaus County has deployed city and county agencies to address hazards and to assist in possible flood evacuations.
STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. —
Stanislaus County has deployed the Central Valley Incident Management Team to help address flooding and other potential hazards after declaring a state of emergency.
Related | Full storm coverage here
Declaring emergencies allows government agencies to increase the number of resources put toward repairs and other forms of relief following disasters.
Water levels in surrounding creeks and rivers like the Tuolumne River, Dry Creek and Orestimba Creek are rising with ongoing rainfall and are expected to reach flood levels by Monday night going into Tuesday morning.
Roughly 55 patients were evacuated from the San Luis Care Center in the city of Newman, which is one of the areas emergency officials have been closely monitoring due to flooding risks.
Multiple ambulances were there to help transfer the patients to safer locations in Modesto, Merced and Madera. But even residents not directly in the path of waterways say the rainfall is bringing them much concern, like some in Modesto.
Modesto city crews powered up their pumps to remove large pockets of water flooding local streets. One such scene at Carver and Teresa streets was just one of many throughout the city.
Flooding concerns have many on high alert, but resident Thomas Adkins said the flooding didn’t seem to stop many drivers from speeding through the slippery roads. He said he had a close call himself as a result.
“It took me by surprise, it could’ve been a split second that we all — three lanes — could’ve been in an accident.”
He is hoping drivers will slow down and avoid the roads on the upcoming days.
“If I can spread the word about people being safe, that’s what I want to do,” Adkins said.
David Roush was outside his home for most of the day, keeping an eye on the fluctuating water levels by his apartment.
He was also watching drivers coming through the flooding on the corner of the street, fearing someone might get stuck and need help.
Roush has stocked up on emergency food and supplies and is currently on standby to help anyone he knows who might be in need.
“I’ve got friends that have already told me that if we get flooded out, they’re heading over to my house,” Roush said.
With ongoing storm impacts, emergency crews have a long road ahead.
Toppling trees have many residents on edge in the Roselawn Avenue and South Avenue neighborhood, where one has already taken down a powerline.
Resident Gabriel Lopez said he’s grateful no one has been hurt so far but worries more trees will be coming down over the next few days.
He said he believes his neighborhood is more at-risk because of old trees along their streets.
“We can just walk nearby and hear them crackling,” Lopez said.
Another concern he pointed out is that many trees around the city have branches intertwined with wires from powerlines.
“I think before the winter, it’d be kind of good for them to go around and see where the powerlines are at,” Lopez said. “And just trim off the branches so if they do fall, they don’t hit the power line.”
Emergency crews say they’ve received at least 300 calls for downed trees but have not seen many live wire incidents.
So far, no one has been reported injured in the county.
Stanislaus County has deployed city and county agencies to address hazards and to assist in possible flood evacuations.
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