LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Emergency Operations Center has reopened as part of the county's ongoing response to Thursday's storm.
The center, or EOC, reopened at 7 a.m. Friday after being on “duty officer” status since 7 p.m. Thursday, according to county public information officer, Jill Ruzicka.
Students were back in school on Friday, with all Lake County schools opened, Ruzicka reported.
She said that on Friday there were no reports of Pacific Gas and Electric customers being without service. If there are power concerns, customers may call PG&E at 800-743-5000.
It was reported the city of Clearlake sustained significant and widespread damage due to flooding. City Manager Joan Phillipe declared a local emergency on Thursday, as Lake County News has reported.
The Red Cross shelter located at the Lower Lake High School gymnasium, at 9430 Lake St., is still open, one of three such shelters the Red Cross opened around the Bay Area and North Coast in response to the storm.
In the case of the Lower Lake shelter, the only shelter in Lake County, it was used to house evacuees from the Village neighborhood, where officials said about 100 residents were evacuated due to high water on Thursday.
Ruzicka said the Red Cross is actively monitoring the situation and will close the shelter when there is no longer a need for it.
The city of Lakeport did not reactivate its emergency operations center Friday, and is beginning the damage assessment process, Ruzicka said.
Jim Brown, Lake County Health Services director, reported that most storm-related impacts on the Lake County health system have been or are currently being resolved.
Ruzicka said Lampson Field airport was to reopen at noon on Friday. It was closed on Thursday due to debris on the runway from an overflowing, nearby culvert.
The storm also caused issues near the Lakeside Height subdivision in north Lakeport, where a landslide began in March 2013. Since then, several houses have been destroyed.
Lake County Public Works closed a portion of Hill Road East in front of the subdivision on Dec. 2 due to concerns that coming storms might cause the slide to come down the hill and impact the roadway.
“The slide at Lakeside Heights has overtopped the K-railing that was placed at the base of the slope and has extended out into Hill Road,” Lake County Public Works Director Scott De Leon said Friday. “Hill Road will remain closed and our emergency access detour to the hospital from Lakeshore will stay in place until further notice.”
Regarding other county roads that had flooding or damage because of the storm, Ruzicka said one that had been closed on Thursday, Eickhoff Road in Lakeport, has been reopened.
She also offered the following road conditions updates:
– High Valley Road: High Valley Road is restricted to single lane traffic at MPM 2.0 due to a washout of the roadway.
– Soda Bay Road: Soda Bay Road near Marina View Drive (Horseshoe Bend Area) had a undermining of the roadway. The area has been stabilized but the traveling public is advised to reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area.
– Hill Road: Hill Road is closed to all traffic from just north of Sutter Lakeside Hospital to Lakeshore Boulevard due to public safety concerns. Detours and signs are in place alerting the traveling public of the need to use alternative routes. Sutter Lakeside Hospital is still accessible on Hill Road East and can be accessed by taking the Park Way Exit on Highway 29 or taking Park Way from Lakeshore Boulevard.
– Ackley Road: Ackley Road is closed to all traffic from Matthews Road to Highway 29.
– Reiff Road: Reiff Road is closed to through traffic until further notice due to winter road conditions. Residents can access their properties.
– Seigler Canyon Road: Seigler Canyon Road is closed to through traffic due to flooding.
– Scotts Valley Road: Scotts Valley Road, from Highway 20 to the packing sheds is closed due to flooding.
Lake County Office of Emergency Manager Marisa Chilafoe is in the field on Friday, touring areas of damage. She also will visit the city of Clearlake Emergency Operations Center.
The next briefing at the Lake County Emergency Operations Center is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, Ruzicka said. A preliminary list of damage assessments will be presented.
Residents can still call 707-263-2360 for recorded information or check the new Lake County Office of Emergency Services Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-OES/307452049434603 , for updates.
County gives status update on storm response, road conditions
- Lake County News reports
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