[UPDATED With more video posted at 2:05 p.m.] Saturated! Storm Photos and Videos

Mad River [Video shared by KMUD]

The clouds opened up their water spigots over the North Coast and the Mad River and numerous creeks overflowed their banks. The downpour caused serious problems on roads and in residences across the Emerald Triangle but particularly in Humboldt County around the Blue Lake area.

The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Servicess said, “This is the most significant flooding of the Mad River since 1964.

About 9 p.m., the Mad River reached over 27 feet causing widespread flooding in Blue Lake. According to NOAA, when the river reaches 26 feet, expect “severe flooding along Mad River Beach Road and extensive flooding of farm lands and other roads in the area. Flooding of residential areas around Tyee City is likely. Any low-lying areas near the river could be flooded.” And they were right!

Reports from the scanner and social media in the Blue Lake area had everything from first responders rescuing people in stuck vehicles and a cat trapped under a house trying desperately to swim in the rising flood waters. [The cat survived!]

Hwy 101 at Hookton Road near College of the Redwoods south of Eureka flooded closing the northbound lanes completely. Southbound remained open. As of the time of publication [1:14 a.m.] northbound Hwy 101 is still closed.

There are unconfirmed social media accounts of travelers having to spend the night in the Loleta/Fortuna areas.

Blue Lake Casino had to close and postpone its show “due to flooding of roads and parking lots.”

Blue Lake Casino gas station and parking lot.

The serious flooding, particularly in the Blue Lake area of Humboldt County, with the Mad River’s overflow caused a number of challenges, particularly in terms of road closures and property damage. As folks get out to tell their stories, we might have more to share with our readers. But meanwhile, here are more photos and stories we’ve gleaned:

Other images:

Believe it or not, Thomas Road (about a half mile before the school) is somewhere under this mass of trees that fell not long before dark Saturday. Neighbors have since cleared the road. [Photo by Lisa Stone]

Off the Hammond Trail in McKinleyville. [Photo by Apryle Mercado]

North Fork lumber company in Korbel. [Photo by Jonny Beck]

A utility pole fell on a pickup loaded with a Canoe Kayak off Trinidad’s Scenic Drive. [Image from Tammy Hodapp]

Tree down across a road off Trinidad’s Scenic Drive. [Image from Tammy Hodapp]

https://www.facebook.com/humboldtbayfire/posts/pfbid0vESTwMiHRztqQWDKfkzB4gVAjhXsc3oqKbTbU1Fs1t4rh3s6EZNvPgbkq875vQnml

https://www.facebook.com/arcatafire/posts/pfbid034Q5mh76gLasSsUqFhEZVHpQmQYwg8UkCuhdbpP3iRmkccpf9BknuqAF1FzQdvEDyl

https://www.facebook.com/george.ponnay/posts/pfbid0iD2MM7yWs5SouTbfZ6TBncjLs4bVen7a75o9nbHqEtbnSSYJMYS4ZcGxaydsXT56l

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.: This video of the Freshwater Park was too astounding to not share.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Here’s some video of taken this morning in Tyee City southwest of McKinleyville near the coast . “Mad River Rd turned into a river,”  said Robert Schoenfield, local resident. “Lots of standing water and mud this morning.”

For our earlier storm coverage, click links below:

• Wet and Wild Out There: Pictures of Storm Impacts
• Multiple North Coast Rivers Flooding or High; Snow Impacting Highways Also
• Northbound 101 Closed Between Loleta and North Tompkins Hill Road
• State Route 211 Through Ferndale Closed Due to Flooding

Note: This piece was prepared with the help of many hands but a special thanks to Lauren Schmitt of KMUD News!