Most of inland Northern California is under a flood warning Sunday, effective through most of the week, as rivers, creeks, levees, and dams in multiple counties are severely stressed following a new round of rain. And in Colusa County, northwest of Sacramento and west of the town of Oroville, a significant part of the small town of Maxwell had to be evacuated in the dead of night as flood waters rose quickly inundated homes with virtually nowhere to drain.
As the Sacramento Bee reports, "A number of residents began calling the Colusa County Sheriff’s Department at 2 a.m. [Saturday] about rising water levels. The department reported later Saturday that local creeks and canals were inundated and had breached their banks."
These were apparently voluntary evacuations, some conducted by boat, and the LA Times reports that "about a hundred" residents evacuated, out of the town's total population of 1,100. Residents told CBS Sacramento that this was the worst flooding the area had seen in 70 years.
Rains and overflowing canals and creeks also caused major flooding on Interstate 5 nearby, as seen in the video below.
More video sent to @kcranews of the flooding in Maxwell. @KCRAKristen will have report from there tonight at 5. Video: @BigJTrucker pic.twitter.com/NquFj3XB3G
— Stephanie Harris (@IAmSteph_1) February 18, 2017
Maxwell flooding. People say it's worst they've seen in 70 years. Flooded roadways. Few homes flooded pic.twitter.com/o3MuTGyrSZ
— Cambi Brown (@CambiBrown) February 18, 2017
As CBS 5 reports, flooding remains a concern for Maxwell and other towns, and more evacuations may be necessary as a new round of rain heads into the region Sunday and into Monday.
As you can see, flood warnings for this week effect not just the Sacramento area but most of the counties to its north, south, and east. The Bay Area, along with Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, and Mendocino counties are all under a flood watch.
Another round of intense rain beginning Sunday and lasting though Monday night. Additional stress on levees & rivers #cawx #CAstorm #CAflood pic.twitter.com/ykYD64m2Dx
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) February 19, 2017
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