Emergencies Declared After Calif. Storms

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Correction to This Article
In a Jan. 3 article about Northern California flooding and mudslides, the Associated Press, based on information provided by the state Department of Water Resources, incorrectly reported that a levee breach near Collinsville in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta forced about 100 people from their homes, and that a Novato levee breach flooded a dozen homes. The department later said the Collinsville levee was only weakened, and the residents were evacuated as a precaution. The Novato breach flooded nearby fields only.

Emergencies Declared After Calif. Storms

Associated Press
Tuesday, January 3, 2006; A02

GUERNEVILLE, Calif., Jan. 2 -- Homeowners shoveled away mud and other debris and authorities worked to repair damaged levees Monday after two storms flooded Northern California's wine country.

The rain moved into the central and southern parts of the state, threatening mudslides on hills stripped bare by summer wildfires.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) declared a state of emergency in seven counties, and initial estimates put the damage throughout Northern California at more than $100 million. The storms were blamed for at least three deaths, all caused by falling trees.

The Russian River at Guerneville had receded several feet Monday, and hundreds of houses were flooded, Sonoma County spokesman Dan Levin said.

In the Marin County town of San Anselmo, north of San Francisco, a swollen creek caused an estimated $40 million in damage to about 50 businesses.

Water also receded in the heart of wine country along the Napa River, which rose out of its banks in the town of Napa and flooded several downtown blocks. Napa officials said about 600 houses and 150 businesses sustained an estimated $50 million in damage.

The weather threatened several levees, including at least two in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, where water flowed over a levee at Collinsville, forcing 40 people from about 15 homes, officials said. In Novato, authorities were working to repair a levee breach that flooded a dozen homes.