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Mudslide sends home crashing into river before it floats away

accuweather.com 2025/3/17

Sonoma County officials are encouraging California residents dealing with heavy rainfall to be aware that some roads are flooded or are littered with debris.

Parts of a house destroyed in a California mudslide floated down Sonoma County’s Russian River on Tuesday after rain deluged the area. Footage captured shows the flattened home floating down the swollen river amid a week of repeated storms that dropped feet of rain and snow on California, with mountain wind gusts as high as 139 mph.

According to local news reports the home, located in Forestville, which is about 70 miles north of San Francisco, was unoccupied when the area around it gave way during heavy rain. The home is operated as an Airbnb, according to Sonoma County Sheriff's Sergeant Juan Valencia.

The sheriff's office added they conducted localized evacuations at nearby homes that could also be impacted. Flood warnings were in effect for much of Sonoma County through Wednesday.

Sonoma County officials are encouraging California residents dealing with heavy rainfall to be aware that some roads are flooded or have debris on the roadway. "Please obey road closure signs. Turn around, don’t drown! Stay safe, Sonoma County!"

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