Residents criticize officials for lack of flood warnings during historic storm
- Sonoma County faced severe flooding due to historic rainfall.
- Many residents reported they did not receive sufficient flood alerts, raising concerns about officials' responses.
- The county plans to reassess its warning systems after the storm.
In the wake of a historic storm, Sonoma County, California, has been grappling with the consequences of severe flooding following substantial rainfall. Over the weekend, the community experienced significant impacts, including the tragic discovery of a man found dead in Piner Creek. Local residents voiced their concerns regarding the adequacy of warnings from officials during this weather event. Despite previous instances where alerts, such as Nixle alerts, had been effective, many residents felt that they had not received timely or sufficient notifications about the rising water levels. The Russian River reached 34.68 feet, approaching the flood stage threshold, and many people living in low-lying areas were affected. The county has announced plans to reassess their response to the storm to improve flood response moving forward.