Van Duzen and Parts of Eel Now Predicted to Flood Tonight or Early Tomorrow

UPDATE 7:49 p.m.: Supervisor Estelle Fennel’s statement:

ALERT FOR RESIDENTS OF LOW-LYING AREAS OF BRIDGEVILLE, AVENUE OF THE GIANTS and SOUTHERN PARTS OF HWY 101

Highway 36 at Bridgeville is projected to flood early tomorrow morning around 3 am and flooding is also projected along Highway 254 at the Avenue of the Giants. The Sheriff is requesting that people move away from the low-lying areas near those places, as well as the low-lying areas along Highway 101 in the southern parts of the county. The volunteer fire departments in Bridgeville and Carlotta have gotten the message and will relay it to people in those areas. The Sheriff will also send personnel to those areas to let people know the river will flood those areas tonight.

The Eel River at Fernbridge and Scotia will both hit flood stage tomorrow at 1 p.m. Sheriff will have personnel (possibly those who live in Ferndale) on duty and on the other side of the river in Ferndale before then.

Please pass this word along if you have friends in those areas. 
Also, Redwood Creek west of Redway is rising rapidly and the bridge near Whittemore Grove has a lot of standing water. 
Please travel only if necessary, drive slowly and take all necessary precautions.

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Original post

Humboldt County press release:

Significant rainfall from the storm that hit Northern California today will cause flooding late tonight/early tomorrow morning along the Van Duzen River at Bridgeville. If you are in the low-lying areas along the river you are advised that you should seek higher ground for the evening and take precautions to protect your life and property. Owners of livestock should take appropriate action to protect livestock from rising river levels.

The river was originally forecast to hit flood stage around mid-day tomorrow, but new projections from the National Weather Service released this afternoon show that the river will rise to 17.1 feet at 3 a.m., and will rise to 20 feet by 9 a.m. This will flood Highway 36, especially east of Carlotta and near Grizzly Creek State Park. Portions of River Bar Road and in the Starvation Flat area are likely to be impassable. In the State Park water may reach near the office.

If you know anyone in this area, please check on them to make sure they have received this flood warning. If you are physically unable to leave on your own, ask a neighbor to help or call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251.

For information on County road conditions and closures, call 707-445-7421 during normal business hours or visit humboldtgov.org/roads. For information on all State highways, call 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623), or visit the CalTrans QuickMap online.

Visit the National Weather Service site to monitor local rivers at http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov.