Stanislaus County leaders declare local emergency, citing storms and flood damage
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday morning to confirm a local emergency because of the storms and flooding.
The emergency was declared Monday and confirmed by a unanimous board vote Tuesday as the county deals with impacts of heavy rainfall and wind damage.
Sheriff Jeff Dirkse provided some details to county supervisors on storm damage on the east and west sides of the county.
He said unexpected incidents included a “flow slide” on a hill at Diablo Grande that backed up watercourses and impacted some homes. Storm water was flooding Highway 33 at a few locations.
Dirkse said 67 people have been evacuated in the county, including 54 residents of the San Luis skilled nursing facility in Newman.
Dirkse said flow rates in rivers and creeks stayed below maximum projections, but swollen waterways including Dry Creek near Modesto, and Orestimba and Del Puerto creeks on the county’s West Side are causing flood damage.
The emergency declaration allows county authorities to take action in response to the storms.
Evacuation centers have been established at the Salvation Army Red Shield center in Modesto and Yolo Middle School in Newman.
Local agencies are watching the Tuolumne River downstream from the confluence with Dry Creek, from the Ninth Street bridge to the west.
Dirkse said the Tuolumne was at 48.9 feet, about six feet below flood stage. The sheriff said major flooding was not anticipated.
The Orestimba Creek flooding over roads near Newman is not as bad as the 1997 flood disaster in the region, when downtown Newman was under a couple feet of water, Dirkse said.
Dirkse said the local emergency would remain in effect through the weekend and will be evaluated next Monday.
Newly elected officials, including Congressman John Duarte, state Assemblyman Juan Alanis and state Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil were in contact with county officials to offer assistance during the storm emergency.
This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 10:32 AM.
