Janice R. Andrews
The Central Coast was devastated by a strong atmospheric river, which resulted in extensive damage, power disruptions, and road closures. The storm’s impact was still interfering with people’s lives and communities as of Monday morning.
Power Failures:
Clients of PG&E:There are still over 55,000 PG&E customers without power. Of them, over 22,000 are in Santa Cruz County, over 33,000 are in Monterey County, and 19 are in San Benito County.
Resource Centers:
- Residents impacted by blackouts can go to one of several resource centers to get help:
- Pacific Grove Monterey Public Library, Monterey County of Monterey Seaside Library, Asilomar Conference Center Social Hall
Closing of Schools:
- Due to storm damage and power outages, several schools on the Central Coast are closed, including Pacific Grove Unified and San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District.
Closed Roads:
County of Santa Cruz:
storm-related incidents have resulted in multiple road closures, including hard closures and hazardous circumstances on local and highway routes.
County of Monterey:
Arroyo Seco Road, Iverson Road, Paraiso Spring Road, and Highway 1 in Big Sur are all closed.
Orders for Shelter-in-Place and Evacuations:
- As of 10 a.m. on Monday, all evacuation advisories and orders have been revoked for Monterey County. Orders to remain indoors, however, are in force in certain locations.
Deathly Boulder Creek Incident:
- In Boulder Creek, a resident’s life was tragically taken by a falling tree inside their home on Highway 9. While one individual was able to flee, another was trapped and died. The victim’s identify is still unknown.
Damage to Santa Cruz Wharf:
- Over the weekend, there was substantial damage to the Santa Cruz Wharf. While workers evaluate the degree of damages, the end of the wharf—which includes the Dolphin Restaurant, restrooms, and spots where visitors can see sea lions—is closed off for an extended period of time.
Residents of the Central Coast are asked to exercise caution, adhere to safety protocols, and seek support at authorized resource centers as they deal with the aftermath of this strong atmospheric river. To protect the safety and wellbeing of the impacted populations, authorities are diligently attempting to clear roads, restore power, and assess damages.
