Break in rain Thursday allows for more clean-up on central coast
UPDATE 12/4/14, 12:30p.m.: A mudslide closed part of Highway 1 in Big Sur overnight Wednesday. Crews cleared the highway at day break. Ice Cream Grade and Martin Roads in Bonny Doon is still closed.
CVS on Graham Hill Rd is still closed as construction crews repair damage to the roof, but the store did say they had staff members who would bring prescriptions people have to pick up to the front door. Still no estimate on when the store will re-open.
UPDATE 12/3/14, 5:35p.m.: Felton Fire said they responded to more than 20 calls for service from 3:00a.m. to about noon Wednesday.
CHP officers had more than temporary closures on roads that crews were clearing and about 175 PG&E crew members were devoted to Santa Cruz County service.
There were more than 2,000 power outages at one time or another on the central coast.
UPDATE 12/3/14, 11:36a.m.: The CVS pharmacy in Felton is closed Wednesday after the rain caused damage to the store’s roof. A roofing company is on scene and a sign no the door is letting customers know they can have their prescriptions filled at the Scotts Valley CVS store. The Felton Fire Protection District has closed the CVS until further notice and permanent repairs are made.
Residents on Zyante Road near Newton Drive worked for hours on Wednesday morning to clear a 10-15 foot tree that fell in the middle of the road and on to several cars. There was no major damage reported. Residents started to cut up the tree around 3:00a.m.
UPDATE 12/3/14, 11:08a.m.: Tree down on roadway at Sloat Rd and Sherman Rd. near Pebble Beach. Tree down Hwy 9 at Kings Creek Rd. in San Lorenzo Valley.
There are reports of several small fires sparked as a result of downed and active power lines.
Here is a list of recent power outages on the central coast:
Carmel
3 outages affecting 37 customers
Los Gatos
13 outages affecting 3,403 customers
Scotts Valley
1 outage affecting 64 customers
Soquel
1 outage affecting 111 customers
Watsonville
3 outages affecting 49 customers
Santa Cruz
5 outages affecting 78 customers
UPDATE 12/3/14, 9:20a.m.: So far Wednesday morning crews are dealing with the following areas where trees are blocking roadways: Larkin Valley Rd at Buena Vista Dr in Watsonville, Mount Hermon and Locatelli Ln, Glenwood and Mountain Charlie Rd, Hwy 236 at Sky Meadow, Bear Creek and Dear Creek Rds., all in the Santa Cruz mountains. Highway 1 and Point Lobos St. there is a tree hanging low over the roadway that callers to dispatch say could fall.
Wires are down over the roadway on Vine Hill Rd. A large boulder in the roadway on Hwy 1 and Garrapata near Big Sur.
Empire Grade Road at High St. is back open as of Wednesday morning.
UPDATE 12/2/14, 7:32 p.m.
Emergency responders and public works crews were busy Tuesday evening as all day rain has created problems in the Santa Cruz mountains during commute time.
According to CHP, a downed tree is completely blocking a road near Eureka Canyon Road and Buzzard Lagoon Road.
Residents on Pine Avenue in Felton are reporting wires falling on trees and arching noises and a possible fire starting.
Trees have also been reported down on Empire Grade and High St., Laurel Glen and Aurora Roads in Soquel.
A four car pile-up happened on Carmel Valley Road near the middle school when a car hit a tree that had fallen on the roadway.
UPDATE 12/2/14, 12:21p.m.: Sandbags will be available at the Hollister city yard at 1321 South Street and Fire Station #2 at 1000 Union Road, both during regular business hours.
The Hollister Police Department also reminds motorists to turn on their headlamps while operating their windshield wipers in inclement weather and reduce speeds in area’s of pooling water on the roadways.
The National Weather Service in Monterey has issued an Urban and small stram flood advisory for Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara counties until 7:30pm Tuesday.
With excessive rainfall, runoff is expected to cause ponding or flooding on some roadways, especially in low lying spots or poor drainage areas. Mud and rock slides are a potential concern in areas with excessive runoff. Small creeks and streams may flood as well.
The National Weather Service says it does not expect widespread flooding, but does urge drivers to use extra caution when traveling on roadways.
The CHP website has been inundated with traffic collisions as well as roadway flooding calls since early Tuesday morning.
Reports also include wires down in the Santa Cruz mountains and slides along the highway in Big Sur. CALTRANS crews are stationed in the Big Sur area along Highway 1 as heavy rain persists to clear any potential slides.
This article will be updated.
