IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN PEOPLE WHO WERE REQUIRED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES UNDER A MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER ON TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 2006, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, A PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRM, AND A CONTRACTOR WORKING FOR LA CONTENTA GOLF COURSE WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO COMPLETE REPAIRS TO THE PEACHTREE POND DAM. THOSE EFFORTS ARE CONTINUING THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY.

THE EVACUATION STATUS IS BEING REVIEWED AND UPDATED EVERY FOUR HOURS AS REPORTS ON THE REPAIRS AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE DAM ARE RECEIVED FROM THE ENGINEERS. EROSION PROBLEMS ON A SECOND LOWER POND ARE ALSO BEING ADDRESSED. PEACHTREE POND, LOCATED IN THE LA CONTENTA AREA OF VALLEY SPRINGS, IS APPROXIMATELY THREE ACRES IN SIZE AND 12 FEET DEEP. APPROXIMATELY 60 – 100 HOMES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED:

• PEACHTREE COURT

• PINE VALLEY COURT

• BLUE HERON COURT

• LA CONTENTA DRIVE FROM BLUE HERON COURT TO VISTA DEL LAGO DRIVE

• VISTA DEL LAGO DRIVE

• GROUSE DRIVE

• TOYON COURT

• HUCKLEBERRY LANE FROM VISTA DEL LAGO TO ANTONOVICH ROAD

AN EMERGENCY SHELTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND REMAINS OPEN AT THE VETERANS HALL AT 198 PINE STREET, VALLEY SPRINGS, 209-772-9650.

ASSESSMENT TEAMS ARE IN THE FIELD TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE TO HOMES AND PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, CULVERTS, DAMS, ETC.)

RESIDENTS NEEDING SANDBAGS MAY PICK THEM UP AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

• THE GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SAN ANDREAS

• THE PUBLIC WORKS YARD AT MILTON ROAD AND BALDWIN STREET IN JENNY LIND.

• FOOTHILL FIRE STATION ON HIGHWAY 12 IN VALLEY SPRINGS.

ROAD CLOSURES/RESTRICTIONS:

• GROUSE DRIVE AND PINE TREE COURT ARE RESTRICTED TO RESIDENTS ONLY

• PEACHTREE COURT IS CLOSED

• CONISTOGA TRAIL IN DIAMOND XX IS CLOSED

• GWEN MINE ROAD IN PALOMA IS CLOSED

• TELEGRAPH ROAD, COPPEROPOLIS IS CLOSED

WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN CLEAR TODAY AND TEAMS ARE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE HOLDING PONDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR POTENTIAL EROSION PROBLEMS.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHILE TRAVELING WITHIN THE COUNTY.

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