CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With Cache Creek overflowing its banks and threatening nearby Clearlake homes, an evacuation center is being set up to get residents out of harm's way.
Residents from throughout Clearlake have reported widespread flooding throughout the morning following a night of heavy rain.
Portions of Olympic Drive, one of the city's main thoroughfares, were reported to be submerged. The video above shows Burns Valley Creek, which appeared to be overflowing into the nearby streets.
City Manager Joan Phillipe and Public Works Director Doug Herren were traveling around the city Thursday morning to assess damage.
“We do have a significant amount of flooding,” Phillipe told Lake County News.
She said flooding is particularly severe in the Burns Valley area and the “Village” – located around Meadowbrook Drive, Highlands Harbor Road and Harbor Lane – next to Cache Creek.
Phillipe said the city's initial assessment was that between 100 and 200 residents could be displaced if the creek continues to rise.
The rain let up late Thursday morning, but Phillipe said more heavy rain is forecast for the afternoon.
The situation prompted the city to open up an evacuation center, which Phillipe said they originally had planned to house at the Clearlake Senior Center on Bowers Avenue.
However, with roads in that area flooded, she said people couldn't get there safely. The center's parking lot also is completely flooded, she said.
Instead, she said the evacuation center is being set up in the gym at Lower Lake High School, which was among the majority of Lake County schools closed on Thursday due to the storm conditions. The school is located at 9430 Lake St.
Phillipe said the city is continuing to offer sandbags and sand to city residents from its Public Works corporation yard, located at 8320 Airport Road.
“We brought more sand in this morning,” she said.
Phillipe said the county activated its emergency operations center and is offering the city assistance.
Jill Ruzicka, the county's public information officer, said updates are being posted to a county hotline number that was set up at 707-263-2360.
She said residents can call in to receive information on current conditions.
In other city news, City Clerk Melissa Swanson said Thursday night's meeting – during which new council members Russell Perdock and Bruno Sabatier were to have been sworn in – has been postponed.
Swanson said the meeting has been adjourned until 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22.
Additional updates on the situation in Clearlake will be posted as information becomes available.
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