bay area storm

Roads flooded, trees down in the North Bay as atmospheric river storm continues

NBC Universal, Inc. Parts of the North Bay have seen record rainfall over the past two days, and yet the worst of an atmospheric river storm may still come. Kari Hall and Ginger Conejero Saab report.

The intensity of this week's atmospheric river storm caused great damage across the North Bay, with roads flooded, trees knocked down and some without power.

Across Sonoma County Thursday, streets were flooded and trees were coming down.

"I think it’s crazy, and we definitely weren’t prepared enough," Carrie Ashworth said.

The powerful storm left roadways flooded across the county and some people stranded in the rising waters.

"I don’t think any of us anticipated for it to come down this fast," Ashworth said.

Officials said crews are tracking rivers and streams as the waterways are likely to get to a minor flood stage.

"So when it enters that action and that monitor stage, that particular river or that stream gets extra special attention," said Jeff Duvall of the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management.

The intense wind and rain also caused trees to topple. One fell onto a house in Forestville, sending the owner to the hospital with minor injuries.

"I’ve seen it flood here a lot of times. I’ve never seen it this bad," Danielle Perlenfein said.

About 150 people got stranded inside Santa Rosa’s Sutter medical center when a nearby stream overflowed.

"We have a waterway over here that kind of got overwhelmed with a lot of water coming into it and overflowed into the parking lot," Will Powers with the Santa Rosa Fire Department said.

Physicians' cars were among those that ended up submerged in the parking lot.

Van Lee had just picked up her mother from an appointment when her vehicle stalled in the water. She had to wade through the flood waters in her clogs to get out.

"I hope they get my car out of the water and fix it because I have to work tomorrow," Lee said.

Paul Lowenthal of the Santa Rosa Fire Department said the city is supposed to get drenched overnight Thursday, adding mote to the forecasting seven-in-a-half inches of rain.

"Today a number of our Santa Rosa Fire department weather gauges around the community are already up to 10 and in some cases 11 inches of rain in less than 48 hours," Lowenthal said.

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