Nearly 200 people are being evacuated from a South Bay campsite due to fears that a swollen South Bay creek may flood.
The Uvas Creek, which runs near the Thousand Trails campground in Morgan Hill, is rising. Camp managers said they are worried the bridge connecting the camp to Watsonville Road will get submerged under water, effectively trapping campers.
Cal Fire crews and Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies helped to evacuate about 175 campers while the Uvas Creek began to wash over the bridge.
Some camp regulars at Thousand Trails were caught off guard by the water gushing in, and were upset with the evacuation procedures.
“I really had to yell and shout to have them help me, and they just kept smiling," Camper Nala Jadallah said. "But I don’t feel safe.”
Above the campground, Uvas reservoir was full and drew a crowd of people, including Hollister resident Russ Nyberg, to watch water cascading down the spill way, causing Uvas creek to rise.
"I've been fishing here with my dad since the 1970s. We used to come fishing here all the time," Nyberg said. "I haven't seen it come down like this in I don't know how long."
Local
The evacuees took temporary shelter at fire station station 11 at 15670 Monterey Street in Morgan Hill, fire officials said. About a dozen RVs and trailers were parked at Morgan Hills First Presbyterian Church, which became a Red Cross Emergency Shelter by late afternoon.
The Sycamore Creek Vineyards and Oak Dell and Uvas pines RV parks are near the campground, which is located at 12895 Uvas Road.
Check back for updates.
