UPDATE, 2:20 p.m.: And So It Begins

1,500 customers without power in Westhaven/Trinidad/Sue-meg.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 2:12 p.m.: Warming Shelter Opens Tonight in Eureka

This is going to be a bad night to not have a roof over your head.

The City of Eureka has activated its overnight warming shelter protocol. If you’re without a home tonight — or know someone who will be — here’s what you need to do.

Meet up with service workers at these times and in these places:

  • Eureka Free Meal: 6 p.m.
  • The Sacco Amphitheater, near the Adorni Center: 6:30 p.m.
  • Hope Center (2933 H Street): 7 p.m.
  • 14th and Koster: 7:30 p.m.

They’ll transport you to the overnight shelter. Stay dry, everybody.

— Hank Sims

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UPDATE, 12:55 p.m.: Well, the Weather Outside is Frightful…

While Humboldt waits for the “bomb” to drop, City of Eureka employees were undeterred in preparing Old Town for the coming holiday season. On Tuesday morning, crews could be seen decorating the Old Town Gazebo and its surrounding plaza in advance of the official Mayor’s Holiday Lighting Fundraising Campaign event scheduled for this afternoon. 

“The show must go on,” city employee Swan Asbury told us when we commented on the timing of the decoration efforts. Bomb cyclone be damned. Eureka will have its Christmas. 

— Andrew Goff

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Graphic: Eureka NWS


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Batten down the hatches, Humboldt! 

Over the next few days, a powerful atmospheric river – or “bomb cyclone” – will bring an onslaught of wind and rain to the North Coast, with most areas seeing between three and six inches of rain between now and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service’s office in Eureka. 

“A major atmospheric river storm is forecast to bring periods of heavy rain and the potential for major flooding in urban and rural areas late tonight through Friday,” according to a Flood Watch issued this afternoon. “Small creeks and streams will rapidly rise and may come out of their banks. More extensive flooding, including flooding of main stem rivers, is forecast later in the week.”

There is a Flood Watch in effect for the Eel River at Fernbridge and other low-lying areas of the Eel River Valley. “Significant flooding of the western portions of Cannibal Island Road, Camp Weott Road, the Salt and Old Rivers, and all adjacent low-lying areas,” according to NWS. “Owners of livestock should consider taking appropriate action to protect livestock.”

Graphic: Eureka NWS


There is also a High Wind Warning in effect for the next 24 hours. Folks living in the interior areas of the county can expect south winds ranging between 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 70 mph expected. Expect power outages throughout the region.

You can find a list of active weather alerts from the National Weather Service at this link. Your LoCO will keep this post updated with current weather conditions, road closure information, power outages and other helpful links. 

As we wait for this so-called bomb cyclone to make landfall, you might want to take the time to charge up all of your devices (including backup batteries) in case of a power outage. It’s also a good idea to have plenty of water and non-perishable food handy.

Need sandbags? The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services has complied a list of where to get sandbag supplies throughout the county:

Bags and sand:

• Hensell Materials, 4475 Broadway in Eureka (bags and sand available)
• Randall Sand & Gravel, 214 West River Ln. in Garberville (bags and sand available)

Sand only:

• Eureka Ready Mix, locations in Arcata, Eureka, Alton and Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Kernan Construction, 1195 Hatchery Rd. in Blue Lake (sand only, no bags available)
• Mercer Frasier, 200 Dinsmore Dr. in Fortuna (sand only, no bags available)
• Powell Landscaping Materials, 1955 Hilfiker Ln. in Eureka (sand only, no bags available)
• Miller Farms Nursery, 1828 Central Ave. in McKinleyville (sand only, no bags available)

Bags only:

• Nilsen Feed, 1593 Market St. in Ferndale (bags only, no sand available)
• Dazey’s Supply, 690 Thomas Dr. in Garberville and 5307 Boyd Rd. in Arcata (bags only, no sand available)
• United Rentals, 3132 Jacobs Ave in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• Root 101 Nursery, 350 Sprowl Creek Rd. in Garberville (bags only, no sand available)
• Pierson Building Center, 4100 Broadway in Eureka (bags only, no sand available)
• McKinleyville Community Services District, 1656 Sutter Rd. in McKinleyville (bags only, no sand available)

We have also confirmed that sandbags are available at the following city locations, free of charge:

Free supplies are intended for residents of the incorporated cities listed below and are available in limited quantities, while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels to fill bags.

• City of Eureka Corp Yard at 945 W 14th St., available anytime
• City of Arcata Corp Yard at 600 South G. St., available anytime
• City of Ferndale at the Francis Street Bridge on Francis St., available anytime
• City of Fortuna, behind the skating rink at Rohner Park located at 9 Park St., available anytime
• City of Rio Dell, behind City Hall at 675 Wildwood Ave., available anytime
• Blue Lake City Hall at 111 Greenwood Ave., available anytime

How to fill and place sandbags:

Check out this video from the California Department of Water Resources on how to fill and place sandbags: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fa8ApB_TFc

Storm season preparedness tips:

Be sure to keep your essential devices and phones charged in the event of power outages. To learn more on how to prepare for a power outage or for more winter storm season preparedness tips, visit: www.listoscalifornia.org/stormseason/

Stay safe out there, Humboldt!