At one home, chickens inside a backyard coop perched on a bar near the roof to avoid the water. Wingfield said living near Soquel Creek has meant being aware there might be floods, but “never did I imagine it would wash out a culvert.”Įvacuations were ordered in nearby Watsonville where creek water spilled over and filled roadways with several feet of water, threatening dozens of homes with flooding. She said the floods so far weren’t impacting their farm, where families in the neighborhood pick pumpkins, squash and sunflowers every summer. Wingfield said her neighbors’ water infrastructure was also washed out, but that her family’s well would keep them with running water. “Hopefully no one has a medical emergency.” Heather Wingfield, a teacher who runs a small urban farm with her husband in Soquel, said she and her neighbors were, for the time being, trapped in their homes as Bates Creek rushed through what was once Main Street. Crews were working to remove trees and other debris and find a way for people to cross the creek, county officials said.Ĭounty authorities asked the town’s residents to stay indoors.

In Santa Cruz County, a creek bloated by rain destroyed a portion of Main Street in Soquel, a town of 10,000 people, isolating several neighborhoods. (AP) - More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways and small rural communities. “It was definitely one for the books, he said.SANTA CRUZ, Calif. “We wouldn’t have done it with middle school kids, but all these kids are experienced surfers who are out here all the time,” Susskind said, adding that he heard no complaints and could feel the buzz from those who got to witness a rare act of nature up close. No one was injured and organizers say the contest only went forward to begin with because of the experience level of the kids involved. Parents coached and cheered kids from the cliff above, helping them time the precarious exit at staircases being battered by waves. Surfers struggled to get to shore after their heats.The boys and girls in bright-colored jerseys were ultimately helped from the water by lifeguards assigned to the contest at multiple locations down the point, far from where they entered the water. It became clear it wasn’t worth it and wasn’t a safe situation so we pulled the plug.”Ī high tide of 5.5 just before 8 a.m., combined with a swirl of underwater tidal energy presumably caused by the tsunami, made paddling conditions extremely difficult. “It was sort of a wait and see and the conditions were okay to start,” said Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League director Marc Susskind. The contest had 120 kids from local high schools such as Aptos and Soquel and some from as far away as Marin and Half Moon Bay. The Boardwalk closed for the day.Ī post shared by Mark Conley high school surf contest scheduled for Pleasure Point pushed forward at daybreak despite the unpredictability of the impending tsunami after organizers consulted with local lifeguards. However, Santa Cruz Police announced city beaches would be off-limits until at least 2 p.m., though the wharf would remain open.

She said beaches under county jurisdiction were open, but officials advised people to stay out of the water due to the possibility of strong currents. Spokesperson Ashley Keehn said that only the docks were evacuated. They sped out of the Small Craft Harbor in the late morning on personal watercraft.Ī bit before 8 a.m., Santa Cruz Sheriff’s deputies created a command center at Santa Cruz Harbor. Santa Cruz County lifeguards were called on to rescue several swimmers overwhelmed by the surge.Both are recovering and in stable condition. Though both got out on their own, both were taken to the hospital, one by ground and one by LifeFlight. that two people who were fishing at San Gregorio State Beach were swept into the water. Soquel Creek in Santa Cruz flowing *backwards* because of a tsunami 🤯 /JxFsllhhdX- robwormald January 15, 2022

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