Reply #91: Flood report from Fairfax, CA at sfgate.com [View All]

[fed-up]

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3 Fairfax was flooded... JOry
Fairfax, CA 12/31 10:31

Just wanted to let folks know that a good portion of Fairfax (and I would assume everywhere else towards the Bay) was under water last night. My fiancee & I sand-bagged our patio door around 10pm, since the rain was coming down faster than the drainage seemed capable of handling it. So far, that hasn't been a problem spot. However, the street we live off was under about a foot of water.

After assessing whether there was anything we could do about the flooding, we decided to carefully journey into town to check on my recording studio. I'm glad to report that the studio fared just fine. It was high and dry and all the drainage appeared to be working properly.

Downtown Fairfax, however, was under about 2 feet of water. We checked out some of the local businesses so we could call folks and let them know the status. We also checked out the creek behind the Women's Club. At around 4:30am, the water level of the creek was at the foot bridge. About 30 minutes later the bridge was not there. (I have not been back yet to verify that the bridge is indeed gone.)

Power did not go out once tonight, nor did cable internet or fone service.

When we returned home around 5:15am, we started calling our friends who live in the flatland areas of town. Only one of them was aware of the flooding at all. Fortunately, most were managing to stay dry, although they were trapped in their homes. One, whose business is in the area of town that was flooding, let me know an hour ago that the timing of my waking him was perfect, as he managed to get to his business just before the water really started causing major damage to property.

Help is needed in cleaning up the town, though. A Volunteer center has been set up in front of Bookbeat. That's at 28 Bolinas. If you check in there you can get direction as to where help is needed most, and it will help the Town get reimbursed with FEMA money.

Bolinas downtown businesses need help filling sandbags at the Pavilion parking lot; and also help clearing mud from their shops and stores, from Mr. Kim's 7/11 and down along Bolinas and Broadway. Street gutters need to be cleaned of mud. Mud needs to be moved to high ground, especially out of the path of oncoming water.

Volunteers can be reached at: John, 706-9229, or Trudi at 509-5818.