Tulare County floods damage 683 structures, destroy 7, force 100 people to evacuate

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta
·4 min read

The flood damage is still being tallied throughout Tulare County, while another series of storms is just hours away from hitting the Central Valley.

More than 680 structures have been damaged by flooding in Tulare County, seven more were destroyed. Roughly 100 people are being housed at temporary evacuation shelters throughout the county, according to county officials.

Lake Kaweah and Lake Success are at 97% capacity, according to Cal Fire Hydrologist Drew Coe. The spillways at Schafer and Terminus dams have stopped flowing. However, regular releases are keeping up with inflows as snow melts.

"They are releasing 4,000 acre-feet per day right now, over a 24-hour period," he said. "They are making more space in the reservoir for incoming rain."

A member of an inmate hand crew watches a helicopter place a large bag of gravel Friday, March 17, 2023 along a break in the Tule River east of Road 192 just north of Avenue 168 and east of Woodville. Road closures are common in south Tulare County. Flood warnings have been issued for many areas.
A member of an inmate hand crew watches a helicopter place a large bag of gravel Friday, March 17, 2023 along a break in the Tule River east of Road 192 just north of Avenue 168 and east of Woodville. Road closures are common in south Tulare County. Flood warnings have been issued for many areas.

Neither spillway is expected to be activated by the coming storm.

Rainfall is expected to continue through Wednesday morning, with the bulk of the rain falling Tuesday. The forecast predicts 1-2 inches of rain in the Valley, 2-4 inches in the foothills, and up to 2 feet of snow above 6,000 feet. The probability of a quarter-of-an-inch of rain or more on Wednesday is between 40 and 65% for most Valley areas.

As of Monday, there were 680 people assigned to the 2023 Tulare County flooding incident led by Cal Fire. Additional state resources were expected to arrive early this week, ahead of the coming storm.

"We've established a lot of really strong partnerships," Visalia Battalion Chief Danny Wristen said during Sunday's informational community meeting. "With all of us working together, our hope is to mitigate anything that develops quickly."

Crews are working around the county to prepare and defend homes from flooding. Resources are also being used to repair and strengthen levees.

Evacuation orders issued for Tulare County

Alpaugh/Allensworth: All homes and businesses, in the Alpaugh area. This order consists of all roads, avenues, and access roads within Alpaugh. For Alpaugh, the current evacuation route Avenue 54 westbound to Virginia Avenue to 6th Avenue, take 6th Avenue northbound to Utica Avenue, Utica Avenue westbound to Interstate 5. For Allensworth, the evacuation route is to take Palmer Avenue eastbound to Highway 43, Highway 43 southbound to Garces Highway, Garces Highway eastbound to Highway 99 northbound.

Porterville: The south side of the 200 block of Rio Vista Avenue. West of Porterville on Olive Avenue to Avenue 144 and the Friant/Kern Canal to the Tule River and Westwood St. Areas near or between Ave. 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. Both sides of the Tule River from Richard L. Schafer Dam at Lake Success in Porterville to the east side of Road 284. The order does not include Highway 190 or the residents and businesses along Highway 190 from Road 284 to the Schafer Dam.

Teviston: All homes and businesses south of Avenue 84, south on Road 128/130 to Deer Creek, east along the north bank of Deer Creek to Road 140, north along Road 140 to Avenue 84, and west on Avenue 84 to Road 128, and all roads and avenues in between.

Cutler: Businesses and homes along Road 124, south of Avenue 408 down to Railroad Drive to Santa Fe Drive, which turns into Eddy, from Avenue 407 to Lee Road to Avenue 408. The road is closed at Road 124, south of Avenue 408.

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

Three Rivers: All homes and businesses on North Fork Drive south of the Baillie Bridge to Sierra Drive (Highway 198); All homes and businesses on South Fork Drive north of Conley Bridge to Sierra Drive (Highway 198); All homes and businesses along the Middle Fork, Sierra Drive (Highway 198) to the National Park boundary, including Mineral King Road. Springville Area Along the south bank of the Tule River, the homes and businesses from the Lower Rio Vista east of Bridge Drive to east of Pleasant Oak Drive on Highway 190. This will include all roads, access roads, and areas in between. Not included is Pleasant Oak Drive.

Evacuation warnings issued for Tulare County

Porterville: From Schafer Dam, west on Avenue 146 to Road 284, south on Road 284 to the south side of the Tule River, from the south side of the Tule River to the Schafer Dam, and north along Schafer Dam to Avenue 146. The homes and businesses within 1/8th of a mile of both sides of the Tule River.

Three Rivers: North Fork Drive north of the Bailey Bridge and all homes on South Fork Drive south of the Connelly Bridge.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare County floods damage 683 structures, destroy 7