bay area storm

Soquel Residents Without Water After Heavy Rain, Storm Debris Wash Out Road, Water Main

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Roughly 40 homes in the Santa Cruz County community of Soquel were without water service Friday after storm runoff and debris washed out a road and water main, according to the local water district.

Storm debris blocked the Bates Creek culvert at North Main Street, eventually leading to the road and water main being washed away, the Soquel Creek Water District said.

County crews were working to clear the storm debris and evaluate the damage to the road. The water district was also working on to repair and stabilize the street.

The storm cut off an entire neighborhood in the coastal town of Soquel Friday as the main road in and out of the area was washed away. Robert Handa explains.

Many of the 450 residents now stranded by the washout said they worried this situation might happen given the relentless rain.

"As time went on we started noticing it was sinking and sinking," resident Diana Morales said.

Santa Cruz County Public Information Officer Jason Hoppin said the incident is caused by this recent storm.

Cinthia Pimentel has your weekend outlook with spotty rain, and is tracking the next Atmospheric River in the 7 day microclimate forecast.

"There was a lot of water at once," Hoppin said. "And we will see this from time to time throughout Santa Cruz County."

What the county does not often see is this type of washout then triggering a watermain break.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood will have to depend on boiling water or getting bottled water until the pipe can be fully repaired and restored.

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