Russian River residents will need to wait until area is cleared of hazards before returning home, authorities say

Residents living in communities along the Russian River evacuated this week due to flooding from a powerful storm will need to wait until safety crews clear the area of potential hazards before being allowed to return to their homes, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Authorities are planning to reopen the roads in Guerneville for local traffic at noon, weather permitting. The intent is to open the roads to the general public on Saturday.

“‘Be patient’ is kind of the theme of today,” Crum said. “As soon as the area is safe, we’ll let people know.”

Among the organizations making inspections in the flooded areas along the Russian River include PG&E, the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, and the county’s road maintenance team, Crum said. Each group will be on the look out of hazards caused by the atmospheric river that began on Monday, which include downed power lines and blocked roadways, he said.

Employees from Permit Sonoma will also enter the communities along the Russian River, when the roads become passable, to check flood-affected buildings, Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said.

The inspections come as water levels along the Russian River continue to recede, dropping to 34 feet in Guerneville Friday morning, 2 feet higher than the town’s flood stage, data from the United States Geological Survey showed. The Russian River crested late Wednesday night at 45.4 feet in Guerneville.

When re-entry does happen, access will initially be limited to people who live in the areas along the Russian River, Crum said. People will need to show identification and proof of residency before being allowed in, he added.

You can reach Staff Writer Nashelly Chavez at 707-521-5203 or nashelly.chavez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nashellytweets.