Sonoma County is still reeling from the devastating effects of recent storms, which toppled trees and washed away roads in areas along the Russian River. The scale of the damage has left residents like Mark Weiss, owner of Raymond's Bakery in Cazadero, scrambling to assess the impact on his business.
Weiss describes the scene after a 300-foot-old growth redwood tree fell during a storm, destroying his outdoor dining area and part of the kitchen. "After 24 years here, you know the sound of a tree falling hitting a structure or car - it didn't hit anything with people in it," he said, highlighting the eerie feeling that resembled an earthquake.
Nearby, Highway 116 was partially washed out during heavy rain, reducing traffic to one lane and prompting concerns about erosion. Chief Steve Baxman from the Monte Rio Fire Department warned of potential further damage as runoff flows downhill. "What happened - we went down with a boat, underneath is an eddy it cuts through, just sucking away at the bottom -it's going to keep sliding," he cautioned.
In Marin County, residents are dealing with flooding and falling trees, leading some to wonder if years of drought have made their homes more vulnerable. "The problem we're having now, we had years of drought so we had a lot of dead trees, now they're filling with water and toppling," said Baxman.
Meanwhile, raw sewage was spotted in the Russian River after it overflowed at a treatment plant in Guerneville. However, officials say that water testing has been conducted, and all samples have come back clean. The General Manager of Sweetwater Springs Water District, Eric Schanz, reassured residents that there is no risk to public health.
Repairs on the washed-out section of Highway 116 are expected to take up to a year, according to Caltrans officials. For now, residents in affected areas must navigate reduced traffic and deal with the aftermath of these natural disasters.
Weiss describes the scene after a 300-foot-old growth redwood tree fell during a storm, destroying his outdoor dining area and part of the kitchen. "After 24 years here, you know the sound of a tree falling hitting a structure or car - it didn't hit anything with people in it," he said, highlighting the eerie feeling that resembled an earthquake.
Nearby, Highway 116 was partially washed out during heavy rain, reducing traffic to one lane and prompting concerns about erosion. Chief Steve Baxman from the Monte Rio Fire Department warned of potential further damage as runoff flows downhill. "What happened - we went down with a boat, underneath is an eddy it cuts through, just sucking away at the bottom -it's going to keep sliding," he cautioned.
In Marin County, residents are dealing with flooding and falling trees, leading some to wonder if years of drought have made their homes more vulnerable. "The problem we're having now, we had years of drought so we had a lot of dead trees, now they're filling with water and toppling," said Baxman.
Meanwhile, raw sewage was spotted in the Russian River after it overflowed at a treatment plant in Guerneville. However, officials say that water testing has been conducted, and all samples have come back clean. The General Manager of Sweetwater Springs Water District, Eric Schanz, reassured residents that there is no risk to public health.
Repairs on the washed-out section of Highway 116 are expected to take up to a year, according to Caltrans officials. For now, residents in affected areas must navigate reduced traffic and deal with the aftermath of these natural disasters.
. And yeah, I get what Chief Baxman is saying about the erosion concerns - once you start losing ground, it's hard to know when it'll stop 
. It's like the drought just makes everything more vulnerable, right? The flooding and treefalls are crazy... how can a place that was supposed to be all lush and green end up looking like a war zone? 
. And raw sewage in the Russian River? That's just gross 
. I hope everyone stays safe during this time, and those repairs on Highway 116 don't take forever...
. it's like we're always prepared for wildfires or floods, but never for the slow creep of devastation that comes from years of drought 
... and yeah, repairs taking up to a year? that's just great. can't we just fast forward to the 'after' 
, have you seen those roads lately? Like, what's going on with our infrastructure? Highway 116 is still closed after all that damage from those storms, and it's gonna be a year to fix? That's just crazy. And don't even get me started on the sewage situation - raw sewage in the Russian River? That's disgusting 
And on top of that, sewage issues... that's just gross. But you know what the worst part is? The fact that we're still dealing with drought-related problems and now it's raining like crazy and washing away our homes. It's like, can't nature make up its mind already? 
. And yeah, it makes sense that after years of drought, all these dead trees would be super vulnerable to flooding and falling apart 
. By the way, did you know that Sonoma County lost over $1 billion in agricultural revenue due to those storms last month? 
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️ or a good ol' fashioned conversation with a friend 
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. And yikes, raw sewage in the Russian River? That's just gross 
. Reduced traffic and dealing with aftermath is tough enough, let alone waiting that long for things to get back to normal 
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also that raw sewage in the russian river is a big deal hopefully it wasn't contaminated with anything 
And don't even get me started on the raw sewage in the Russian River... at least they checked the water samples (I guess?). I mean, I know droughts are bad news, but come on! We didn't expect nature to be all like "Ha! You thought you could control me? Nope!" 
. 24 years is a long time, and Mark Weiss must be feeling so overwhelmed after his outdoor dining area and part of the kitchen were destroyed by that massive redwood tree 
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