AS OF 4:30 P.M., APRIL 7, 2006, A BREACH OCCURRED IN A LEVEE CHANNELING WATER RELEASES FROM NEW HOGAN DAM. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET IN LENGTH AND WATER HAS FLOODED SEVERAL AGRICULTURAL AREAS. NO STRUCTURES ARE CURRENTLY THREATENED AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF RISING FLOOD WATERS.

CALAVERAS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF FORESTRY, HIGHWAY PATROL, JENNY LIND FIRE AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE ONSITE TO MONITOR FLOODING LEVELS. SEARCH AND RESCUE PERSONNEL ARE ON STANDBY.

RESIDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THE SITUATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDENT UPON DEVELOPING WEATHER CONDITIONS. MANDATORY EVACUATIONS MAY BECOME NECESSARY OVERNIGHT. THE U.S. WEATHER SERVICE IS EXPECTING ANOTHER STORM TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA BEGINNING LATER THIS EVENING. THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOCAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF ½ TO 1 INCHES IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING ALONG ALREADY SWOLLEN RIVERS AND STREAMS. THE WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE AREA BEGINNING AT 4:00 P.M. AND LASTING THROUGHOUT THIS EVENING.

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.

HOMEOWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE THE FLOOD WATERS THAT DAMAGED HOMES ALONG COSGROVE CREEK ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON WERE CONTAMINATED WITH UNTREATED SEWAGE. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES FOR CLEANUP OF HOMES THAT WERE CONTAMINATED WITH SEWAGE CAN BE FOUND ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE. IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONTAMINATION, PLEASE CALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT (209) 754-6399.

IF YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT RED CROSS SERVICES, PLEASE CONTACT THE LOCAL OFFICE AT (209) 553-1513 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M. OR CALL THEIR 24-HOUR DISASTER HOTLINE AT 1-800-696-3873.

COUNTY ROAD CLOSURES/RESTRICTIONS:

• CONISTOGA TRAIL IN THE DIAMOND XX SUBDIVISION IS CLOSED.

• GWEN MINE ROAD IN PALOMA IS CLOSED.

• TELEGRAPH ROAD IN COPPEROPOLIS IS CLOSED.

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

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