The California town of Wilton remains under shelter-in-place orders after intense rain from Saturday’s atmospheric river threatened an “imminent levee failure.” According to KCRA, officials confirmed Sunday morning at least two levees have been breached.
On Saturday afternoon, the 5,000-some residents of the Sacramento County town were ordered to evacuate immediately as flood waters rose. By 3:30 p.m., however, conditions were too dangerous on the roads, and Sacramento County officials told remaining residents to shelter in place. At 11:30 p.m., a flash flood warning for Wilton was issued due to “an imminent levee failure in that area on the Cosumnes River. Residents have been advised to seek higher ground immediately.”
That flash flood warning remains in effect for southern Sacramento County until 11:15 p.m. Sunday.
The warning covers the area south of Wilton Road, west of the Cosumnes River and north of Gay Road. An evacuation center was opened at the Wackford Community Center at 9014 Bruceville Road in Elk Grove. According to KCRA, dozens of vehicles were stranded on Highway 99 on Saturday, and some roads in the region are still completely flooded. Footage taken Sunday morning shows a number of trucks and cars abandoned near the Dillard Road exit.
Cosumnes Fire Department captain Chris Schamber told KCRA that “dozens upon dozens” of motorists needed rescuing on Saturday. Schamber urged people to avoid Highway 99 and the Wilton area today as first responders continue to help and monitor the area.
Cars were stuck around Wilton, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2023 due to flooding.
KCRA/Screenshot“Flash flooding is ongoing,” the National Weather Service’s flash flood warning cautions. “Local officials are working to assess the extent of the flooding. Please stay out of the area!”
The county has declared a winter storm state of emergency to help deal with the storm damage. “Sacramento County has been experiencing an atmospheric river that began Dec. 31, 2022, and thus far has resulted in significant transportation impacts, rising creek and river levels and flooding in Wilton,” the county said in a statement.
Wilton is no stranger to levee failures. When historic flooding swept Northern California in 1997, a levee near the town broke, forcing 15,000 to evacuate. Some needed rescue as the Cosumnes River rose 7 feet over flood level.
The town of Wilton, Calif., evacuates during a storm on Dec. 31, 2022.
KCRA/ScreenshotFor the latest updates from Sacramento County, click here.
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