My thoughts are with all residents and property owners of Rio Nido.
Let's all hope for the best possible outcome.
The slide area is 800 feet above the canyon floor. It's feared that a 'debris flow' of mud and trees
could come down from the top and make it's way to the Russian River via Rio Nido.
As of 2/12/98 the mandatory evacuation zone is the following area:
Upper Canyon 3 Road, Canyon 3 Road, Hay Lane, Bay Avenue,
and all houses north of the intersection of Willow Road and Canyon 3 Road.
Contrary to media reports, there is no plan to use explosives in
the Rio Nido Canyons to set off the slide.
Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services has said other Rio Nido Canyons
are not in jeopardy at this time.
The Rio Nido slide is located on private porperty. The Sheriff
is enforcing private property trespassing laws at the request of the owner.
Geologists are examing the debris flow from the slide.
At the direction of Vice President Gore, FEMA has set up an assistance center for
slide and flood victims at the Guerneville Veterans Building located at
First and Church Streets. The FEMA phone number is 1 800 462-9029 or 869-2372
Thursday, March 26, 1998
VOLUNTARY RE-ENTRY PLAN:
At the Tuesday, March 24th meeting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a plan for Rio Nido accessibility on a voluntary basis.
This plan creates two zones, which had previously been subject to mandatory evacuation. The first is a prohibited zone where access will not
be allowed. The second is a recommended evacuation zone where residents would be allowed to reenter on a voluntary basis at their own risk.
The plan will allow residents below the intersection of Hay Lane, Bay, Willow, and Canyon Three Roads to voluntarily re-enter their homes with
a target date of April the first. Move in information packets will be available at the Rio Nido fire station in the afternoon of the 28th. If your
residence is in the prohibited zone and you feel you should be considered for the recommended zone contact Chris Arnold at the Permit
Resource Management Department 527-1900. The re-entry program can be suspended or cancelled depending on significant changes in the
slide or adverse weather changes. For several days County emergency workers will be available for re-entry coordination. COUNTY
EMERGENCY WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE PERSONAL PROPERTY. Information packets are available at the Rio Nido
fire station and will be mailed to non-occupant owners.
UTILITIES:
Residents who wish to move back into the Recommended Evacuation Area need to sign the utility restoration acknowledgement at the Rio Nido
Fire station. Additional information can be obtained by calling 869-2439. You need not contact PG&E. You should contact telephone, cable, and
other utilities to establish service after the first of the month.
MOVE OUT ADVISORY:
Before residents in the Recommended Evacuation Area can move back in, all the Upper Canyon Three residents and other areas in the
Prohibited Zone must have their property removed from their residences by Sunday March 29th. Any resident with special needs (e.g. disabled
or the elderly) should contact Deluge Interfaith Response at 869-5820 or call 869-0389. NO ENTRY WILL BE ALLOWED INTO THE
PROHIBITED AREA AFTER MARCH 29.
FEMA:
Residents who wish to receive financial assistance for home repair must call 1-800-525-0321to schedule an inspection appointment. Do this
before you make repairs of your home. FEMA inspections cannot be completed until the area is changed from a Mandatory Evacuation Area to
Recommended Evacuation Area. The anticipated date is April 1st.
ADVISORY:
The County has advised residents that due to the geologic instability of the area, re-entering their homes is against the advice of geologists and
the County.
RE-ENTRY INFORMATION:
Residents who wish to move back in need to sign the utility restoration acknowledgement at the Rio Nido Fire House. Additional information can
be obtained by calling 869-2439. Evacuees who plan on moving out permanently must call 869-0389 to schedule an appointment to complete
their property retrieval by March 29th.
GEOLOGIST UPDATE:
Bill McCormick of Kleinfelder Inc. finished and released a geological update. These updates are available at the Rio Nido Fire Station and on the
Sonoma County web page at www.sonoma-county.org, though it will not be mailed. The block itself has not moved, though mud keeps flowing
onto the floor of Upper Canyon Three. Substantial rain conditions indicate some debris flow activity. On Monday 3-23-98 a flow of about 500
cubic yards flowed about two-thirds of the way down the face of the slide. Geologist are concerned that rain amounts will have a direct impact
on the slide and will continue to evaluate it on an ongoing basis. The completed report is expected around the first week of April.
ASSISTANCE:
Evacuated residents are reminded to register for FEMA assistance by calling 1-800-462-9029.
FEMA has reviewed the fair market rental value of the Rio Nido area, and determined that a 20% increase in payments to evacuees is
appropriate. This increase is retroactive.
Sonoma County Mental Health and Resident Advocacy representatives are at the Rio Nido Fire House on a daily basis or by calling 869-0682.
PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Public Information Officers are available at the Rio Nido Fire Station daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to provide information to residents in the Rio
Nido area. The Public Information Officer has daily videotapes of the incident area available for viewing at the Rio Nido Fire Station. Photographs
are also being displayed.
There is a bulletin board at the Rio Nido Fire Station for resident messages.
The national guard has been called back and replaced with private security staff.
All residents are encouraged to apply for FEMA programs even if they voluntarily evacuated.
Evacuated residents that want to get articles from their homes are required to call the
public information hotline (707) 527-3856 and set an appointment to do so.
Residents are reminded to bring a flashlight when they arrive for their appointments,
as there is no PG&E Service to the area at this time.
Residents living on Mount Jackson Road, Canyon One Road, Canyon Two Road and Lower Canyon Three
are required to have vehicle entry passes to gain access to their homes.
The passes are available at the Rio Nido Firehouse.
Access to other areas of Rio Nido is not being restricted and there is no threat from
this landslide. Many residents never left areas of Sequoia Road, Canyon Six and Canyon Seven Roads.
All residents in the Rio Nido Canyons are encouraged to evacuate for their own safety.
If further evacuations become necessary, emergency vehicles will move through the canyons
with lights and sirens to alert residents. Additionally, a large auxillary siren will be activated.
Many of you are aware that my folks, Jake and Marilyn Stoltz,
have owned a cabin on Canyon Six in Rio Nido for over 25 years.
Theresa and I are in the process of purchasing Mattei Villa,
pictured here,
a cabin also on Canyon Six, right next door to my parents place.
Right now, it's all in the hands of Mother Nature, more aptly named El Niņo.
A summer shot of the river by canoe.
Important Phone Numbers
Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services
Public Information Hotline
1-707-527-3856
FEMA Hotline
1-800-462-9029
Informational Links
Russian River FloodCam from Monte Rio
Press Democrat FloodWatch WebSite
Sonoma County Office of Emergency Services
California Office of Emergency Services
Current Doppler Radar Image
Rio Nido Geological Report
Email: astoltz@concentric.net
