central CA–18

lornajarrettblanchard January 1, 1970

–18 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 9-17-2008.
— 6 UPI. “Wind, Rain Hit N. California…” Independent Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA, 1-17-1970, A4.
–4 Traffic accidents “on rain slick highways, police said.”
–1 Palos Verdes Peninsula, Jan 17. Edwin D. Verburg, 57.
— 5 EDS. Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1970, p. 2.
–1 Groveland area; drowning when office trailer slid into Tuolumne River; male.
–2 Redding area; drownings, overturned raft. [Earl Fielding, 26, and John Brekenridge, 24. ]
–1 Middletown area; drowning when boat overturned. [Stanley Lacy, 15, in Clear Lake ]
–1 Guerneville area; drowning when boat overturned. [Rex Dupret, 18; in Russian Riv. ]
— 1 Concord area, ~Jan 24. Drowning; off-duty policeman.
— 2 Modesto, Jan 10. Traffic accident on “rain slickened road.” Carl E. Linam, 33; Gary W. Perez.

Narrative Information

Environmental Data Service: “Northern and Central California…8-26 [Jan]…5 [Killed]…Rain and wind. Record and near-record rains in the upper Sacramento Valley and portions of the North Coast Drainage caused flooding on the Sacramento, Eel, and Russian Rivers and in Marin and Lake Counties. Highways were closed, and telephone and power services were disrupted. Land slides damaged or destroyed several homes in the San Francisco Bay area. The Richmond-San Rafael bridge was closed when a large truck and trailer was overturned by the wind. One man was drowned when an office trailer slid into the Tuolumne River near Groveland; 2 persons drowned when their raft overturned near Redding; 1 man was drowned near Middletown and another near Guerneville when their boats overturned. 3 persons were rescued by the Coast Guard from a capsized boat off the Golden Gate.” (Environmental Data Service. Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1970, p. 2.)

USGS: “Excessive rain falling on snow during January and February was responsible for flows in the Sacramento River in California that were the highest since construction of Shasta Dam…The death toll was 18, and there was $38 million in damages (Paulson and others, 1991). There were also record maximum discharges in the lake basins of northeastern California. Additional flooding extended from northeastern California to northeastern Oregon.” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 9-17-2008.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Five Drown in North Rain Area.” Star-News, Pasadena, CA. 1-26-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/star-news-jan-26-1970-p-1/

Associated Press. “San Francisco area hit hard by newest storm.” The Daily Democrat, Woodland, CA.1-24-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/woodland-daily-democrat-jan-24-1970-p-1/

Environmental Data Service. Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1970. Asheville, NC: EDS, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-FD511926-C3E5-4C23-9D3E-785FC0AF50C3.pdf

Environmental Data Service. Storm Data, Vol. 12, No. 2, Feb 1970. Asheville, NC: EDS, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-18408932-DAD1-438C-BA2D-B7C58B8DCABA.pdf

Independent Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA. “Storm Drenches Area – Another Due Today. 2 Deaths Blamed on Rain.” 1-17-1970, p. 1. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/independent-press-telegram-jan-17-1970-p-1/

Modesto Bee, CA. “Traffic Death Brings Suit for $100,000.” 1-20-1970, p. 10. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/modesto-bee-and-news-herald-jan-20-1970-p-10/

United Press International. “Wind, Rain Hit N. California, Claim Six Lives.” Independent Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA, 1-17-1970, A4. Accessed 3-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/independent-press-telegram-jan-17-1970-p-8/

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1