'Worse as it's ever been': Cameron Park residents describe flood damage at homes, evacuations
Deputies went door to door alerting people to the flooding concerns.
Deputies went door to door alerting people to the flooding concerns.
Deputies went door to door alerting people to the flooding concerns.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services ordered mandatory evacuations for areas in Cameron Park on Saturday, affecting nearly 150 people.
Deputies went door to door, alerting people to the flooding concerns.
Linda Newton said floodwaters rushed through her yard, breaking her fence and leaving a muddy mess inside her garage.
“It started raining, but the water kept getting deeper and deeper,” said Newton. “I’ve been here about six years and it’s worse as it’s ever been.”
Newton didn’t get any water inside her home, but her neighbors did. She estimates the water rose about six inches to her doorstep.
“It broke the back fence. It’s amazing how strong it is, the flowing water,” Newton said.
Newton was among hundreds of Cameron Park residents who lost power. Pacific Gas and Electric crews were busy working to restore power. Most of it came back by 7:00 p.m.
Despite the evacuation orders, Newton is staying put.
“We just want to keep an eye on things and have a generator and if it gets bad, we will leave,” Newton said.
Hours before the authorities ordered the evacuations, some Cameron Park residents already made the decision to leave.
“The water is all up under our house,” Tammy Graham said.
The water surrounded her home on Chelsea Drive. She grabbed her three cats and her mother.
“She’s bedridden and on oxygen and we are going to a different hotel because they are booked solid,” she said.
Tearfully Graham said the water is destroying her property.
The sheriff’s office said it’s not concerned the levee to Cameron Park Lake will be breached. The water did go over the drainage ditch. The El Dorado Irrigation District had a water main break that raised the lake level. Crews fixed the break.