Redwood Empire News

Starting on November 19, Humboldt County and surrounding regions in the Pacific Northwest have been affected by an atmospheric river intensified by a bomb cyclone. The storm has resulted in heavy rainfall and strong winds, leading to county-wide flood and wind advisories from the National Weather Service.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) advises residents to prepare for ongoing storm impacts. Although the immediate threat to life and safety has decreased due to weather trends, there is still a risk of flooding. "The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts rainfall to continue lightly in the coming days; however, the decrease in rain doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of flooding," states OES.

There are no current closures on Highway 211 at Fernbridge, and access to Ferndale is not expected to be impacted based on forecast projections. The Humboldt County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) continues to provide public information, impact assessment, and situational awareness related to the storm.

Evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings for several zones including HUM-E101-A and HUM-E105-B. Residents may return home but should remain cautious as conditions could worsen. Evacuation warnings remain in place for other zones such as Eel River: HUM-E101-B and Van Duzen River: FOR-E016-A.

As of 1 p.m. today, November 22, the evacuation center at Fortuna Firemen’s Pavilion will be closed. This center was established by the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services along with American Red Cross-Gold Country Region.

Residents are encouraged to stay prepared for future emergencies by signing up for alerts at humboldtgov.org/alerts. They are also advised on flood safety tips such as avoiding walking or driving through floodwaters.

For updated road closure information visit protect.genasys.com or humboldtsheriff.org/emergency. For more details on county road conditions visit humboldtgov.org/roads.

"Continuous rain in the forecast may bring risk of downed trees, potential minor flooding in low-lying areas, creeks and streams," warns local authorities. Residents should try to avoid travel unless necessary and review Caltrans Quickmap for road conditions if travel is needed.

In case of encountering downed power lines, call 9-1-1 immediately followed by PG&E at 1-800-743-5002 while staying at least 35 feet away from the line.

For updated information regarding Humboldt County's storm response visit www.humboldtgov.org/emergency or follow @HumCoOES on social media platforms Facebook and X or call 707-268-2500.