Strong thunderstorms, more flooding possible for Tulare and Kern counties

Lauren Jennings, Visalia Times-Delta
·5 min read
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As communities throughout Central California scramble to recover after the most recent storm, another set of showers is on the way.

Strong thunderstorms may push through portions of southern Tulare, Delano and Bakersfield between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday. As a result, thunder, lightning and small hail may strike, followed by intense rain and flooding.

“If you hear thunder or lightning, go indoors immediately,” the National Weather Service Hanford said. “Wait 30 minutes after you last hear thunder to resume outdoor activities.”

Excessive rainfall is also expected in the Sierra Nevada foothills, eastern San Joaquin Valley, and Kern County mountains, the majority of which should fall by this afternoon. Porterville, Reedley and Visalia – as well as a handful of other areas throughout Central California – are under flood watch until 11 a.m. Friday.

Visalia experienced one-quarter of an inch on Tuesday and is expected to receive a little more than one-third of an inch over the next 24 hours.

The recent string of storms have left more than 760 structures damaged and seven destroyed in Tulare County. Cal Fire is still completing its damage assessments as some areas are still inaccessible.

State response to atmospheric rivers

Since the initial storm struck in December, 11 atmospheric rivers have swept throughout California. As a result, multiple state entities have been deployed to assist those in need.

“We’re continuing to mobilize an all-hands-on-deck response to protect Californians during this latest round of devastating storms,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said. “With communities from San Diego to Siskiyou County reeling from recent storms, the state is working closely with federal and local partners to provide immediate relief and support the ongoing recovery.”

Here are some of the numbers behind California’s Major Disaster Declaration response:

  • More than 4,000 Caltrans crew members have mobilized to nearly 200 locations statewide, working to keep roads open.

  • Cal Fire has 33 crews statewide, including personnel from Cal Fire, the California National Guard, the California Conservation Corps, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

  • Cal Fire has two incident management teams are assisting in Inyo, Mono and Tulare counties. Helicopters have been making routine sandbag and supply drop-offs along breached levees and in areas throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains.

  • The California National Guard has deployed 125 Cal Guard soldiers and 48 high-water vehicles across seven counties to support flood and rescue operations. Nearly 60 Guardsmen from Task Force Rattlesnake have been deployed in Tulare, Mono and Placer counties to help assist with debris and snow removal.

  • California Department of Food and Agriculture field staff in Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Stanislaus counties have been working with dairy farmers with animal evacuations.

The American Red Cross has also been monitoring the storms, providing shelter and food to those in need. More than 300 disaster workers throughout the state are working to help those being evacuated.

“The American Red Cross is on the ground in California, helping people impacted by the constant stream of atmospheric rivers that have blanketed the state in snow and rain since late December,” a Wednesday update from the Red Cross reads. “If an emergency threatens your neighborhood, be prepared to evacuate quickly and leave the area if local officials tell you to do so.”

For more information on Red Cross shelters, visit redcross.org or click here.

Tulare County Evacuations, Shelter in Place

Alpaugh/Allensworth

All residences and businesses in the Alpaugh area. This order consists of all roads, avenues, and access roads within the communities of Alpaugh.

Porterville

North and south bank of the Tule River from E. Westwood Street to the Piano Bridge. The south side of the 200 block of Rio Vista Avenue. West of Porterville on Olive Avenue to Avenue 144 and the Fraint/Kern Canal to the Tule River and Westwood Street. Areas near or between Avenue 192 to the north and the north branch of the Tule River to the south, and on/near or between Highway 99 to the west and Road 152 to the east.

Exeter

Along Highway 198 of High Sierra Drive to Yokohl Drive. Highway 198 is closed to eastbound traffic at Road 196. These evacuations are for residents and businesses along 198 at Road 217, Badger Hill, Avenue 295 and Eaton Road.

Three Rivers

All homes and businesses on N. Fork Drive south of the Ballie Bridge to Sierra Drive. All homes and businesses on S. Fork Drive north of Conley Bridge to Sierra Drive. All homes and businesses along the Middle Fork, Sierra Drive to the National Park boundary, including Mineral King Road.

Springville

Along the south bank of the Tule River, the homes and businesses from the Lower Rio Vista east of Bridge Drive to the east of Pleasant Oak Drive. This includes all roads, access roads and areas in between.

Shelter in Place

Homes and businesses along the Kern River area, Mountain Highway 99, Johnsondale/Riverkern, North Fork (north of the Bailey Bridge), South Fork (south of the Connelly Bridge), and the Tule River from Richard L. Schafter Dam at Lake Sucess to Olive Avenue.

Evacuation Centers

  • Exeter Veterans Memorial Building is open daily at 234 N. Kaweah Ave., Exeter

  • Porterville College Gym is open daily at 100 E. College Ave., Porterville

  • Ivanhoe Memorial Hall is open daily at 33209 Hawthorne Rd., Ivanhoe

  • Tipton Memorial Building is serving as a temporary evacuation point at 557 E. Spencer Ave., Tipton

  • Tulare County Fairgrounds is serving as an animal shelter from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 620 S. K St., Tulare, Gate 7.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Strong thunderstorms, more flooding possible for Tulare and Kern