Sacramento County is dealing with a damaged levee system after recent storms threatened local infrastructure. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors declared a Proclamation of Emergency to address the "significant uncontrolled levee erosion" near Sherman Island, according to FOX40. While no evacuations have been issued, officials are advising residents to stay updated through Sacramento-Alert.
Engineers first noted the levee's erosion on Dec. 14 during an inspection. Recent storms have been particularly harsh on the levee, with "high river water, strong tidal influence and winds in excess of 40 miles per hour" causing notable damage. FOX40 elaborated that as a precaution, access to Sherman Island County Park has been restricted, designating it as a storage site for repair materials.
In the wake of these developments, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency, aiming to expedite funding and the acquisition of necessary materials to address the failing levee. The potential of the levee to undermine nearby infrastructures, such as the Highway 160 Antioch Bridge, has placed additional emphasis on the urgency of repairs.
While the levee's compromised state is acknowledged, a timeline for its repair remains uncertain, "It's unknown when the levee will be fixed, however, Robinson did say repairs have already begun," Matt Robinson, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services, emphasized in a statement obtained by CBS News. Should conditions worsen, and Sherman Island faces imminent flooding, the county may ask residents "to move out of the way and evacuate," Robinson warned, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
