Bakersfield, Kern County Flooding: 2 Thousand Evacuated (video)

by NowPublic Staff | December 20, 2010 at 12:07 pm

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Kern County Flooding, Evacuation: Parts Of Highway 178 Closed (video)

Heavy rain has caused two thousand people to evacuate their homes and forced sections of Highway 178 to close, in the Bakersfield area of Kern County, according to local news reports.

Kern County Road and Highway Closures (full list)

Kern County Flood Information Numbers

Concerned residents could call it at (661) 326-3111. The emergency line for Public Works is 327-7111. Number for Wasco Flood Assistance (661) 364-2230.

Just before noon Monday, about 2,000 residents were evacuated in the McFarland area, prompted by major flooding in the area east of Highway 99, west of Wiley, south of Elmo Highway, and north of Sherwood Avenue. Evacuation centers were set up at Mouser Center, 100 S. 2nd St., and McFarland High School, according to the Kern County Fire Department.

Ten people and their dogs had to be evacuated in the predawn hours Monday in Weldon because of extensive runoff in the area between Kelso Valley Road and Kelso Creek Road, according to the fire department. An evacuation center was set up at the Kern Valley Senior Center.

About 3.75 inches or rain fell over the weekend in Bakersfield and Kern County prompt a state of emergency declaration as more rain is expected at least until Wednesday.

The heaving rains has closed sections of Highway 178, specifically,