Changing forecasts allow flood warning to be cancelled

The National Weather Service has updated its reports and forecasts and has lifted the flood warning threats to the Truckee Meadows region.  They have estimated that the Truckee River in downtown Reno will crest at 8.6 feet at 4:00 p.m. with the cubic feet per second measuring at 4350.  The river will crest at Vista at 13.2 feet, at 8 p.m. with the cubic feet per second measuring at 5642.  River levels are expected to begin receding around midnight tonight.  Snow levels are expected to be lowering to the 6,500-foot level this afternoon.

The Regional Emergency Operation Center (REOC) remains open as well as Reno and Sparks EOC locations.   Washoe County and City staffs continue to patrol streets and ditches and assist residents and motorists stranded by floodwaters.

Washoe County’s Emergency Manager, Aaron Kenneston noted, “We dodged a bullet this time with this flood event.  We are not out of the woods yet with future flooding events as we are just in the beginning of the winter season. Coordination with Regional Partners, Public Safety officials, First Responders, and volunteers made years of emergency planning and training pay off with succinct warning information and emergency services to protect and prepare the community and region from widespread damage.”

Sandbag Locations and Disposal.

If you need to dispose of your sandbags, please take the sandbags back to the location where you picked them up.  The map of the sandbag locations can be found at floodawareness.com.

District Health officials advise that residents should avoid contact with floodwaters as they may be contaminated with debris or raw sewage. Special attention should be used when dealing with floodwater, such as wearing rubber gloves and boots, and well as washing hands frequently.

Residents with water wells should not drink or use water from those wells if the floodwater has covered their well-head.  After floodwaters subside, these wells will need to be chlorinated.  Well owners should contact the Washoe County Health Department 775-328-2436. Water from local municipal water systems is not affected and is safe to drink.

Evacuation Centers.

All evacuation centers including the Livestock Event Center are now closed.  If residents are in need of any assistance with animals, please contact the Animal Services Dispatch at 775-322-3647 until 10:00 p.m. tonight.

Large pieces of debris continue to move down the Truckee River, with smaller particles on the streets and the gutters which all pose a safety hazard.  Residents are encouraged to stay out and away from the river and to continue clearing gutters and low lying areas by their homes and businesses for storm waters to properly drain.

To report flood damage, citizens can call 211, City of Reno at 775-334-4636, City of Sparks at 775-353-5555, or Washoe County at775-328-2180 or go to ReadyWashoe.com and click on the “Report Damage” link on the homepage.

Road Closures. The City of Reno will be opening the downtown Virginia Street and Arlington bridges and main intersections leading into Sparks at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.

The City of Sparks road closures remain in effect at this time.  Check with the City of Sparks website at http://www.cityofsparks.us for more information.

Regional emergency response officials ask for the public’s help during this storm event.  Specifically, residents are asked: