By Chloe Curtis
With so much rain accompanying a storm moving through California, flooding is a real threat in many communities.
River Lodge RV Fishing Resort is just along the Sacramento River in Tehama County and is one of the most impacted areas. Some RV owners told Action News Now that they are preparing to evacuate depending on how bad the flooding gets.
People living along the river are no strangers to flooding every year. Steve McKinney lives in one of the RVs partially submerged. He plans to take his dog and get out.Â
“I’m going to leave. My kid is on the way to pick me up, and everything will be alright. We’ll worry about the bus later,” McKinney said.
McKinney said the water came up quickly Monday morning.Â
“Hopefully, it will start dropping because I want to get that thing out of here,” McKinney said.
Flood waters are also creeping up on two other RVs along the river bank. John Clark, who lives in Gerber, said he comes to the RV park every year to try and help owners get their RV’s out before it’s too late.
“I think after last year, we kind of had a little bit of a scare, so they’re more willing to go because last year was terrible,” Clark said.
Flood waters rose significantly from the morning to the afternoon. Heavy rain is taking over the park quickly. McKinney said that around 6 a.m., the water was around trees along the river, but that water is now creeping toward the office.Â
“I think I’ll deal with it later on and just let it sit there and not worry about it,” he said.
As for Clark, he plans to keep checking in with those staying behind and hope for the best.
“It’s just kind of a way of life helping everybody. I’m also originally from Paradise, so we know how to help each other. You know, natural disasters like this are getting more frequent like how this is, and if everybody gives each other a helping hand, then it can all go a lot more smoothly,” Clark said.
Clark even ensured that Action News Now reporter Chloe Curtis had a waterproof pair of boots to get her through her shift safely.
The rain will be coming down for several communities for most of the day.
The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol have stopped by the park and talked to people living in RVs by the water. They can’t force them to evacuate at this point, but they are telling them to be extra careful and ready to go immediately.
Chloe Curtis is a reporter for Action News Now.