On Dec. 31, emergency dispatchers received a report of a 78 year old man trapped in his pickup truck. This occurred along Tollhouse Road, between Burrough Valley Road and Humphreys Station. Deputies, along with members of CAL FIRE/Fresno County Fire and American Ambulance - Fresno/Kings California worked to get a life vest on the man and safely extract him from the vehicle. Fresno County Sheriff photo

Fresno County Administrative Officer and Emergency Services Director Paul Nerland proclaimed a state of emergency in the county effective Monday. 

The proclamation is in response to severe weather caused by an atmospheric river system that has battered the state for more than a week. On Monday, Fresno County felt the most severe effects of the storm to date, experiencing road closures due to flooding and damage to trees and power lines caused by heavy winds.

The county’s Emergency Operations Center has been established in Clovis, and will coordinate with all of the county’s departments to mitigate damage and ensure public safety.

As of Tuesday morning a total of 14 people have been killed in California as a result of the adverse weather, and more than 11 million people in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties are under flood warnings as of Tuesday morning, according to a report by CNN.

Fresno County will task its Sheriff, Public Works and Planning, Emergency Services, Internal Services Division and Social Service departments with coordinating with agency partners including CalFire, CHP, CalTrans, PG&E, Southern California Edison, National Weather Service, Sierra National Forest Service, CalOES and water reclamation organizations to help mitigate damages and provide assistance to those affected by the storms, according to a news release.

According to the release, Fresno County will also update its social media platforms and its website with up-to-date information on roads, sandbags, power outages, evacuation areas and weather.

Additionally, the public is encouraged to utilize the Everbridge App, which allows residents to report road hazards.

The county also reminded the public of storm safety tips:

• Do not travel in flooded areas and to turn around.
• Turn on your headlights when using windshield wipers.
• Report plugged culverts and washed-out roadways.
• Avoid recreational travel especially to the foothills and mountains.
• Stock up on supplies and prepare to shelter-in-place.

 

Tuesday morning, the Fresno County Sheriff’s office lifted an evacuation order in the area of Highway 180 and Piedra Road as water levels have receded from Mill and Hughes Creeks into the Kings River.

The evacuation warning was issued Monday and included homes within Riverbend RV Park, N. Wilderness Drive, N. Trout Lake Drive, Wood Duck Ave., Little Beaver Road and beyond.

The Fresno County Sheriff website includes access to winter storm risk & evacuation zone maps as well as a real-time mapping system people can visit  related to road closures and detours.