🌱 Healdsburg Storm Update + School Closure + 'Scary' Roads

Hey, everybody! Simone here with your fresh copy of the Healdsburg Patch newsletter, full of all the most important things happening in town. Today's issue includes updates on:

• This spectacular storm sweeping the region
• What it means for the Russian River, and the people who live along it
• An important new county-level role for Healdsburg's former city manager
• And more...

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Rainy and windy. High: 56 Low: 45.
• Friday: More rain and wind. High: 56 Low: 48.

Also: The "flood watch" issued yesterday remains in effect until 4 p.m. this afternoon.

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Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. As I'm sure you noticed, a raging storm passed through Healdsburg and the wider region last night — downing trees, knocking out power lines and flooding streets and waterways. The worst thing that happened was down in Occidental, where a redwood tree fell into a house and killed a baby. Horrible. Nothing near that bad was reported in Healdsburg. We did get a scare late last night, though, when the Sonoma County Sheriff's office sent out an "evacuation warning" for residents who live near the Russian River in "unincorporated south Healdsburg," south of Westside Road and west of the 101 — meaning they should be ready to evacuate at any moment. But the actual evacuation order never came, as far as I can tell, and the City of Healdsburg clarified that it "has NOT issued any Evacuation Warnings for any evacuation zones within the city limits at this time." According to emergency officials, the river is expected to crest this evening while still below "flood stage" — but will rise again on Sunday and Monday after a second storm hits. We'll keep you posted throughout! (Healdsburg Patch & Healdsburg Patch & City of Healdsburg via Facebook & National Weather Service & Healdsburg Fire Department via Facebook & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Healdsburg's West Side Union Elementary District, which runs one elementary school out Westside Road, is among the dozen or so school districts in Sonoma County that have canceled school today because of the storm. It's a "full closure, with no distance learning," according to the Sonoma County Office of Education. It does not appear, however, that the Healdsburg Unified School District has announced any closures so far. You can keep checking the county website for updates. (Sonoma County Office of Education & County of Sonoma via Facebook)
3. Healdsburg High graduate Dave Kiff, who served as our interim city manager during the turmoil of summer 2020, has been named the new head of the Sonoma County homeless services division. The Healdsburg Tribune has a great story today on his background and vision for the new role. Kiff tells the Trib: "There’s this concept of Functional Zero Homelessness, but we’re never going to end homelessness. We’re never going to prevent every last soul from losing their home. But the goal of Functional Zero is to say, when homelessness occurs, the person is rapidly rehoused, and it’s a one-time event for them, and it’s of brief duration. Cities and counties across America are trying to embark on this effort because with Functional Zero, you end the chronic homelessness, which is the ones we see on our streets. And it’s so disconcerting to the individual who is homeless and to the people who see it, because there are people who are crying out for care due to mental illness or substance use disorder." Click through for the full story. (Healdsburg Tribune & Press Democrat; paywall)

Healdsburg pics of the day, river watch edition:

Note from Simone: Do you have pics to share of the storm, or anything else interesting you've spotted in Healdsburg lately? You can send them to me here. Please just confirm in your email that you took the photos, and that Patch has permission to republish them. 📸

Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Thursday, January 5

• Locals & Industry Night at Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant (5-7PM)
• Folk Duo Fellow Pynins Performs at Little Saint (5:45PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Hosts "Run With the Crew" Through Downtown Santa Rosa (6PM)
• Film Screening at THE 222: "A Matter of Life and Death" by Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger (7PM)

Friday, January 6

• Bilingual Family Storytime for Kids Aged 0-5 at the Healdsburg Library (10:30AM)
• Healdsburg High School Boys Soccer Home Game Vs. Windsor (7PM)
• Healdsburg High School Girls Basketball Home Game Vs. Elsie Allen (7:30PM)
• Bluegrass Band Rowdy River Special Live at the Elephant in the Room (9PM-12AM)

Note from Simone: Probably best to check with organizers before attending any of the above events, especially the outdoor ones, in case they're canceled due to weather!

From my notebook:

• A neighbor warned on Facebook last night to be super careful if driving out Dry Creek Road. "It's BAD," she says. "Debri all over the road, huge branches, broken trees, mud coming off the hillsides along with the flooding, garbage cans all over the road ... . If you're driving in the morning use alot of caution, pretty scary and hazardous." (Facebook Groups)
• The propane shortage reported by new City Councilmember Ron Edwards last week has been relieved by Aaction Rents, another neighbor says. The business has reportedly "had their pump repaired and is back up and running!" (Facebook Groups)

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Events:

• Crossing Over With Psychic Medium John Edward (Live)! (January 15)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop for today! Stay safe out there...

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Daily? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com