Russian River. Courtesy of Sonoma County Sherriff's Office.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS:

While crews are working to open roads, County staff have also started conducting damage assessments on an estimated 2,600 properties that have flooded. Colored tags will be posted after assessments are complete. Green tags mean it is safe to re-enter, yellow tags indicate limited entry (tags will specify limited areas), and red tags mean the property is not safe to enter. To ensure your safety please wait until your property has been assessed before entering.

DEBRIS DROP-OFF:

DO NOT dump debris in roadways. Dispose of debris at proper locations. Hazard waste will not be accepted at debris drop off locations.

Non-Toxic Flood Debris Disposal

Forestville / Rio Nido

Time / Dates: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 2-4
Location: Forestville Park and Ride lot, 8820 River Road (at Mirabel Road)
Location: Sunset Beach River Park, 11060 River Road

Guerneville

Time / Dates: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 2-4
Location: Guerneville Park and Ride lot, 16514 Main St.
Location: JK Amusement Center (Pee Wee Golf and Arcade), 16155 Drake Road

Monte Rio

Time / Dates: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 2-4
Location: Monte Rio Community Center , 20488 Highway 116

ROAD CLOSURES:

Many roads are still closed. Continue to observe road closures and use detour routes. Road closure information for the unincorporated areas can be found at RoadConditions.sonoma-county.org.

Call Transportation and Public Works at (707) 565-5100 to report a road obstruction from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 565-2121 after hours.

LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER:

Residents impacted by winter storms and floods can access recovery services and resources at the Local Assistance Center (LAC) which opened on Sunday, March 3 from from noon-6 p.m., at the former Bank of America Building, 16390 Main St., Guerneville. The LAC will stay open all week, from Monday, March 4 through Saturday, March 9, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m daily. The LAC may remain open after this date if needed.

Government agencies and non-profits will be available to answer questions, offer resources and take applications to determine eligibility for various resources. All Sonoma County residents can access services regardless of immigration status.

The agencies at the LAC will include:

County of Sonoma Departments:
- Permit Sonoma will provide over-the-counter permits for some repairs and help to begin the permit process for structural work and building safety.
- Human Services Department will take applications for for CalFresh food benefits and Medi-Cal.
- Health Services Department will have representatives from Animal Services, Environmental Health, and Behavioral Health to provide mental health support and referral.
- Community Development Commission will support other housing needs.
California State Agencies:
- Department of Motor Vehicles (Monday-Saturday) for those needing identification or driver licenses.
- Department of Insurance (Monday-Saturday) to provide insurance support.
- Contractors State Licensing Board to provide contracting support and resources.
Non-profit organizations: including United Policyholders (Wednesday-Thursday), American Red Cross, and The Salvation Army to provide additional resources and support to local residents.

The LAC will also have information on topics related to the flood including debris drop-off locations for non-hazardous waste, and dates and times for hazardous waste drop offs as well as important health and safety information.

REPORTING DAMAGES:

To maximize State and Federal support opportunities, we encourage residents impacted by the flood to accurately record and report all losses and damages. Please report everything including damages to property, personal belongings, vehicles, and all items large and small on your property. Take photos and make a list of all items damaged or lost.

HEALTH INFORMATION:
It is important to protect yourself from exposure to floodwater regardless of the source of contamination. The best way to protect yourself is to stay out of the water.

If you come in contact with floodwater:

Wash the area with soap and clean water as soon as possible. If you don’t have soap or water, use alcohol-based wipes or sanitizer.
Take care of wounds and seek medical attention if necessary.
Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent before reusing them.

Exposure to contaminated floodwater can cause wound infections, skin rash, gastrointestinal illness and tetanus. Floodwaters contain many things that may harm health. We don’t know exactly what is in floodwater at any given point in time. Floodwater can contain:

Downed power lines
Human and livestock waste
Household, medical, and industrial hazardous waste (chemical, biological, and radiological)
Coal ash waste that can contain carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic, chromium, and mercury
Other contaminants that can lead to illness
Physical objects such as lumber, vehicles, and debris
Wild or stray animals such as rodents and snakes

For more information go to www.socoemergency.org or call 707-565-3856.