Politics & Government

Tips to Prevent Flooding in Sonoma This Week

Pick up chairs, flower pots and anything else that could get swept away in creeks. Don't put leaves in the streets.

Sonoma's creeks and streets are looking in good shape so far in the rain, Public Works Director Milenka Bates told Patch on Thursday night. No significant flooding is expected in this week's storm, which is expected to last through Sunday. The heaviest rain is expected this weekend.

"It’s early season; if it was later in the season and we were saturated, that might be different," she said. Bates said that, even so, Napa Street always tends to get some surface flooding.

Storm drains have been cleaned and the city has had extra staff on call in the evenings and will do so on the weekend in case of any problems. Residents are advised to call police or fire stations and ask for Public Works assistance if needed.

Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"They will get hold of us," Bates said.

The County of Emergency Services will get the word out if there is flooding, so residents should look for updates from local media for reports. Other than that, residents should be on the alert themselves, Bates said.

Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Anyone living along a creek should pick up chairs and flower pots and that sort of thing near the creek—that’s where we have problems, when things get swept away and we get logjams. Take them to higher ground.

"Also, a lot of people sweep up their leaves and put them in the street. Don’t do that. Put them in the waste container because otherwise it clogs up the storm drains."

Bates said the last serious flooding was in about 2005 along Sonoma Creek. She said Nathanson Creek behind the high school and Fryer Creek on Second Street West, behind Safeway can be problem areas too.

"There was a lot of damage in 2005, and we did fill out some FEMA forms," she said. "If it’s a high tide in San Pablo Bay, that’s when Sonoma Creek backs up."

For information on sand and sandbags in Sonoma, see this Patch story.

TELL US: If you see significant flooding, please tell us in the comments section below.

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