Injured kayaker among several rescued from Sacramento waterways during California storm
As a powerful atmospheric river brought localized flooding and gusts up to 60 mph in California’s capital region, city and county fire crews in Sacramento responded to multiple water rescue incidents Tuesday, including at least one resulting in serious injuries.
A kayaker swept away into the fast-flowing water of the American River on Tuesday evening was located and rescued by two boats and two helicopters, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said.
A Metro Fire helicopter transported the kayaker, who was not wearing a life jacket, to a hospital where they were in critical condition, the department said in tweets.
Earlier that morning, Metro Fire also responded to an abandoned vehicle that had ended up in an Elverta canal. No one was injured in that incident, Metro Fire said.
The Sacramento Fire Department successfully rescued two adults and a dog who were “trapped inside of a makeshift shelter” along Steelhead Creek, near Tenaya Avenue and Natoma Street in the city’s Gardenland area. All three were rescued by boat, uninjured, the Fire Department said in tweets.
Waterways are running high and fast, with flood emergencies developing in other parts of the Sacramento Valley. Residents of Lovey’s Landing in northwestern Sutter County were evacuated Tuesday after sheriff’s officials said rising waters could endanger the mobile home park, which sits just east of a bend in the Sacramento River.
That order remained in place Wednesday morning, with forecasts showing the river could rise above the Colusa Bridge by about 11 a.m.
Sacramento saw moderate precipitation totals Tuesday, with the National Weather Service reporting 0.59 inches of rain downtown and 0.56 inches at Sacramento Executive Airport. Gusts topped 45 mph at those sites, and reached as high as 60 mph at Mather Airport and McClellan Airport.
Fire personnel urged people to avoid waterways during severe weather events.
This story was originally published March 15, 2023 at 8:21 AM.
