Evacuation warnings lifted for parts of Merced, Planada and Le Grand

Andrew Kuhn
·3 min read

The City of Merced announced Wednesday that evacuation warnings previously in effect for four locations of the city have been lifted.

Evacuation warnings for areas 1A, 1B, 2 and 13 have been lifted but people are urged to use caution around flooded streets, waterways and along walking paths, according to a City of Merced news release. Area 1A includes homes east of Highway 59 and north of West 16th Street near Bear Creek, including the Riviera Holiday Mobile Estates as well as Shadowbrook Drive and Driftwood Drive. Area 1B includes the Carol Gabriault Park area and homes between West North Bear Creek and Highway 59 from Brookside Drive to La Mirada Drive.

Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.

Area 2 includes Cooper Avenue and Miles Court, north of Ashby Road and south of Black Rascal Creek between Highway 59 and the Black Rascal Creek Tributary. Area 13 includes homes north of West North Bear Creek Drive and south of Loughborough, Devonwood and Olivewood drives, west of R Street.

Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.
Evacuation warnings have been lifted for some areas near Bear Creek, according to the City of Merced. Images courtesy of City of Merced.

City creeks remain hazardous with cold, swift-moving water due to runoff and snowmelt. According to the city, creek banks and pathways remain unstable and residents should avoid all walkways and waterways. The City of Merced Public Works Department is working to address any issues and pothole activity has increased due to localized flooding.

Flood-fighting walls and other materials will remain in place along North Bear Creek Drive out of caution and in preparation for future weather events, according to the release.

Signs warn pedestrians of a dangerous section of bike path along Bear Creek near West 25th Street in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Signs warn pedestrians of a dangerous section of bike path along Bear Creek near West 25th Street in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

Residents can receive alerts by signing up for Subscribe Merced through the city’s website and a flood safety checklist is available online. The City of Merced advises residents to call 911 for emergencies and 211 for general information. For after-hours urgent Public Works matters, residents are asked to contact the Merced Police Department dispatch at 209-385-6905 and a 24-hour Merced County Office of Emergency Services information line recording can reached by calling 209-385-7379.

Warnings lifted for Planada, Le Grand

Additionally, evacuation warnings have been lifted for Planada and Le Grand area residents Wednesday, according to Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexandra Britton. Britton said an evacuation warning remains in effect for the Newman and Stevinson areas as well as the area near George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area.

According to Merced County spokesperson Mike North, no major flooding incidents have been reported in the Planada and Le Grand areas following recent storms.

“What we had a lot of (Tuesday evening) was minor localized flooding around roadways from that sudden downpour,” North said.

The County is continuing to monitor waterways and Merced County Public Works is shoring up any problem areas and making sure there are no blockages, according to North. With more wet weather on the way, the county encourages residents to sign up for the Merced County Emergency Notification System through the county’s website. Residents can also sign up to for flood information by texting MCFLOODS to 888777.

Residents are encouraged to use caution while driving as there may be flooded roadways throughout the county, according to a Merced County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.

Britton said residents should remain vigilant and prepare for the possibility of future evacuation warnings as additional inclement weather could move through the area in the coming weeks.

Bear Creek flows past a railroad bridge near West 25th Street in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Bear Creek flows past a railroad bridge near West 25th Street in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Sandbags line West North Bear Creek Drive in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Sandbags line West North Bear Creek Drive in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.