| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | February 1986 |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Damage | 7000 people evacuated, 250 homes destroyed |
| Areas affected | Napa County |
The Napa River flood of 1986 is considered by many to be the worst flood experienced by Napa, California, during the 20th century. Twenty inches of rain fell in a 48-hour period; 7,000 people were evacuated, 250 homes were destroyed and another 2,500 damaged. Three people died, and estimated damages reached $100 million.[1][2][3][4][5]
Following the flood, residents expressed a renewed urgency to mitigate flooding caused by winter storms, creating obstacles that slowed the flow of the river on its course to the San Francisco Bay. Since the flood, the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District has worked to control the floods by way of the Napa River Flood Project.[6] Another flood of lesser proportions occurred on December 31, 2005, after over a week of rain.[7] Smaller floods occurred in 1995 and 1997.
References
- ↑ "Napa River Flood Protection Project: A Living River Concept". FEMA. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ↑ Carson, L. Pierce (February 27, 1986). "When the rain and the river wouldn't stop". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ↑ Carson, L. Pierce; Ernst, Doug; Courtney, Kevin (February 18, 1986). "Rapid rise of Napa River water took local officials by surprise". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ↑ Goetting, Jay (January 6, 2006). "Recalling '86 while cleaning up after '05". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
- ↑ Carson, L. Pierce (February 17, 1986). "Napa hit by heavy flooding". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ↑ Courtney, Kevin (February 20, 2011). "Flood of the century: 1986 death, destruction led to reform along Napa River". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ↑ Courtney, Kevin (December 31, 2005). "Severe flooding hits Napa Valley". Napa Valley Register. Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. Retrieved October 17, 2010.