TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: MY DAY IN SONOMA COUNTY! PARTS OF GUERNEVILLE UNDER WATER AS RUSSIAN RIVER FLOODS

The severe storm that brought torrential rains and hurricane force winds on Thursday has subsided, dumping near record rain throughout Northern California.

San Francisco’s downtown was soaked with nearly 3.5 inches of rain, the wettest December day in 19 years. San Jose got 3.9 inches of rain, the third wettest day in the city’s history. And Whiskeytown, west of Redding, was drenched with nearly 12 inches of rain – the most in the entire state.

Waiting for the river to crest and waters to recede Guerneville Residents keeping an eye on the river’s swollen banks. Friday, December 12th 2014

In the North Bay, it’s been an anxious 24 hours for people living near the Russian River. The river crested at flood stage Friday morning, cutting off roads and some homes.

Henry Hamlin is nervous about the Russian River creeping ever so close to his house. He spent the night frantically moving furniture in the basement to higher ground.

Some ignore warnings to avoid driving through flooded areas. Friday, December 12th 2014

“I had no clue where the water would stop,” Hamlin said. “It’s a foot from entering my basement.”

Sonoma County officials say the river crested Friday morning at 33 feet, one foot above flood stage. That was enough put Neeley Road underwater, cutting off homes.

“For now they’re stuck,” Stevie Lindborg said. “One road in, one road out!”

This RV didn’t make it! Guerneville Residents keeping an eye on the river’s swollen banks. Friday, December 12th 2014

A contractor rescued what tools he could from the house he’s building, now, partially submerged.
Carrie Armstrong has seven feet of water in her backyard, but she’s not worried.

“I raised the house last year, so it wouldn’t flood,” Armstrong said, “20 feet”

A pee-wee golf course became an obstacle course for kayaks.

Greg Hawkins and family came to see the flooded river. “You never know when it’s going to flood on the Russian River,” he said “It’s been doing it for years.”

Throughout the Bay Area, waves slammed onto waterfronts, ferries were bound to their docks, many schools canceled classes and the gusting winds had motorists tightly gripping their steering wheels on the Golden Gate Bridge, where managers created a buffer zone to prevent head-on collisions by swerving cars.

my colleague Steve Stifter @kgocameraman – wading through 3 feet of flood water for the perfect shot – Weather Stories require commitment! Guerneville Residents keeping an eye on the river’s swollen banks. Friday, December 12th 2014

A power outage in San Francisco forced the closure of the Montgomery BART station for six hours. Riders had to get off either at Embarcadero or Powell Street station and walk in the rain. Flooding was the big problem at the San Bruno BART station, where clogged drains flooded the ticketing area. The station was closed for nearly two hours while crews mopped up the water.

There were major delays at the San Francisco International Airport. Some 240 flights were canceled and most of them were short flights along the west coast. Flight Aware said delays at SFO were averaging between 30 minutes to an hour.

At one point, Pacific Gas & Electric reported more than 276,000 customers were without power in the Bay Area. At least, 66,400 lost power in San Francisco. About 3,100 PG&E customers lost power in the East Bay, 1,100 in the Peninsula, 2,900 in the North Bay, and 2,800 in the South Bay.