2023 Tulare Flooding

INCIDENT UPDATE
Date: 03/20/2023 Time: 12:00 p.m.

@CountyofTulare Tulare County Flood Hotline: (559) 802-9791

@CountyofTulare Media Line: (925) 588-6833
@TulareCoFire @TulareCountyFireDepartment Incident Website:
@TulareSheriff @TulareSheriff https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/
INCIDENT FACTS
Incident Start Date: 3/8/2023 Incident Start Time: 8 A.M.
Incident Type: Flood Cause: Weather
Incident Location: Tulare County
CAL FIRE Unit: Tulare Unit
Unified Command Agencies: CAL FIRE, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Visalia Police Department, Porterville
Police Department, Tulare County Fire Department, City of Visalia Fire Department, Porterville Fire
Department
First Responder Fatalities: NONE First Responder Injuries: 2

Structures Threatened: 23,921 (approximate) Total Destroyed: 7

Affected: 300 Total Damaged: 683

Major: 652 Minor: 177

Unconfirmed: 40
Damage assessments are ongoing. There are still areas that are inaccessible. Incorporated areas
are collecting data separately.
CURRENT SITUATION
Crews continue to work around the county to prepare and defend residences.
Resources continue to repair and strengthen levees in preparation for the next round of
storms. Resources, including swiftwater rescue teams and other first responders, are
strategically prepositioned around Tulare County to respond to any safety issues that
arise.

Today we are expecting good weather with no precipitation expected. Rain is forecast to
begin around midnight tonight, continuing into Wednesday morning. Tomorrow, up to
1/2 inch of rain is expected. Sunny skies should return by Thursday.
Be aware of equipment and personnel working in affected areas. Please do not travel in
these areas unless necessary. Never drive through standing water or around barricades
or road closed signs. Unseen dangers, such as sinkholes, culvert washouts, and debris
may be present beneath seemingly low water levels. It is very important to abide by all
evacuation orders, warnings, and closures.

There is a possibility of encountering wildlife that has been displaced by floodwaters.

Wild animals can behave unpredictably and should be avoided.

Page 1 of 6
 The spillways at Schafer Dam on Success Lake and Terminus Dam on Lake Kaweah
have stopped flowing. Regular outlet releases are keeping up with inflows. Based on the
current weather forecast, neither spillway is expected to be activated because of the
coming storm.

Damage Tulare County’s Property Damage Form is available online. Anyone in need of
Assessment assistance reporting damage to their property can call the Tulare County Flood Hotline
at (559) 802-9791 between 8 am – 8 pm.
Tulare County officials are seeking assistance in documenting damage from the recent
severe weather event. This information will help collect and consolidate impact
information and will be provided to State and Federal agencies as they assess damages.
Completing this survey is not an offer of financial aid.
English Español

Alpaugh/Allensworth
Evacuation
All residences and businesses, in the Alpaugh area. This order consists of all roads,
Orders
avenues, and access roads within the communities of Alpaugh.

For Alpaugh the current evacuation route is to take Avenue 54 westbound to Virginia
Avenue to 6th Avenue, take 6th Avenue northbound to Utica Avenue, Utica Avenue
westbound to Interstate 5.

For Allensworth the recommended evacuation route is to take Palmer Avenue eastbound
to Highway 43, Highway 43 southbound to Garces Highway, Garces Highway eastbound
to Highway 99 northbound.

Porterville
North and south bank of the Tule River from Westwood Street east to the Plano Bridge.

The south side of the 200 block of Rio Vista Avenue.

West of Porterville on Olive Ave (Ave 152) to Ave 144 and the Friant/Kern Canal to the
Tule River and Westwood St.

Areas near or between Ave. 192 to the north and the north branch of the Tule River to
the south, and on, near, or between Highway 99 to the west and Road 152 to the east.

The order does not include Highway 190 or the residents and businesses along Highway
190 from Road 284 to the Schafer Dam.

Teviston
All residences and businesses south of Avenue 84, south on Road 128/130 to Deer
Creek, east along the north bank of Deer Creek to Road 140, north along Road 140 to
Avenue 84, and west on Avenue 84 to Road 128, and all roads and avenues in between.

Page 2 of 6
 Cutler
Businesses and residences along Road 124, south of Avenue 408 down to Railroad
Drive to Santa Fe Drive, which turns into Eddy, from Avenue 407 to Lee Road to Avenue
408. The road is closed at Road 124, south of Avenue 408.

Exeter
Along Highway 198 east of High Sierra Drive to Yokohl Drive in Exeter. Highway 198 is
closed to eastbound traffic at Road 196. These evacuation orders are for residents and
businesses along 198 at Road 217, Badger Hill Avenue, Avenue 295, and Eaton Road.
Three Rivers Area
All homes and businesses on North Fork Drive south of the Baillie Bridge to Sierra Drive
(Highway 198); All homes and businesses on South Fork Drive north of Conley Bridge to
Sierra Drive (Highway 198); All homes and businesses along the Middle Fork, Sierra
Drive (Highway 198) to the National Park boundary, including Mineral King Road.
Springville Area
Along the south bank of the Tule River, the homes and businesses from the Lower Rio
Vista east of Bridge Drive to east of Pleasant Oak Drive on Highway 190. This will
include all roads, access roads, and areas in between. Not included is Pleasant Oak
Drive.

Porterville
Evacuation
Both sides of the Tule River from Richard L. Schafer Dam at Lake Success in Porterville
Warnings to the east side of Road 284.

From Schafer Dam, west on Avenue 146 to Road 284, south on Road 284 to the south
side of the Tule River, from the south side of the Tule River to the Schafer Dam, and
north along Schafer Dam to Avenue 146.
The residences and businesses within 1/8th of a mile of both sides of the Tule River.
Three Rivers Area
North Fork Drive north of the Bailey Bridge and all residences on South Fork Drive south
of the Connelly Bridge.

Homes and businesses along the Kern River area, Mountain Highway 99, Johnsondale/
Shelter in Place
Riverkern, and North Fork, north of the Bailey Bridge, South Fork, south of the Connelly
bridge. The Tule River from Richard L. Schafer Dam at Lake Success, to Olive Ave.
Exeter Veterans Memorial Building
Evacuation
234 N. Kaweah Ave. in Exeter
Centers Open 24hrs
Porterville College Gym
100 E. College Ave. in Porterville
Open 24hrs
Ivanhoe Memorial Hall
33209 Hawthorne Road, Ivanhoe
Small animals in crates allowed
Open 24hrs
Tipton Memorial Building
Temporary
557 East Spencer Avenue in Tipton
Evacuation Point Open 24 hours. Intake only, not a shelter.

Page 3 of 6
Animal Shelters Tulare County Fairgrounds
620 South K Street in Tulare
Enter in Gate 7 off Martin Luther King Jr Avenue
Animals can be dropped off between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Large Livestock -Those in need of housing large livestock will need to submit a Natural
Disaster Evacuation - Housing Request form online at: tcanimalservices.org.
Avenue 360 from Road 52 to Road 76
Road Closures Avenue 360 from Road 80 to Road 100
Road 156 from Avenue 32 to Avenue 40
Road 184 from Avenue 24 to Avenue 32
Avenue 120 (Hesse Road) from Road 236 to Road 244
Road 88 from Avenue 56 to Avenue 88 (Alita Avenue)
Road 144 from Avenue 404 to Avenue 416 (El Monte Way)
Mountain Road 276 (Blue Ridge) from Mountain Road 270 to the end
Dry Creek Drive from State Route 216 to north of Homer Ranch
Road 212 (Orange Belt Highway) from Avenue 256 to Avenue 264
Lort Drive east of Road 196
Avenue 304 east of Road 212
Avenue 300 east of Road 212
Road 108 from Avenue 368 to Avenue 384
Road 164 from Avenue 352 to Avenue 376
Mountain Road 109 (Old Stage Road) from Avenue 108 to Avenue 264
Avenue 228 from Road 228 to Road 240
Road 248 from Avenue 108 to Avenue 120
Road 256 from Avenue 108 to Avenue 116
Avenue 352 from Road 36 to Drive 60
Road 144 from Avenue 364 to Avenue 384
Road 176 from Avenue 24 to Avenue 42
Richgrove Drive from Avenue 32 to Sierra Drive
Road 272 from Avenue 120 south
Road 196 from State Route 198 to Avenue 300
Yokohl Drive from State Route 198 to Rocky Hill Drive
Road 144 from Avenue 24 to Avenue 40
Avenue 256 from Road 212 to Road 216
Road 248 from Avenue 96 to Avenue 102
Road 152 from Avenue 224 to State Route 137
Avenue 12 from Road 224 to State Route 65
Road 208 from Avenue 88 to Avenue 112
Avenue 112 from Road 224 to Road 208
Road 192 from Avenue 96 to Avenue 112
Road 192 from Avenue 24 to Avenue 40
Road 176 from Avenue 56 to Avenue 96
Road 188 from Avenue 242 to Avenue 256
Road 256 from Avenue 196 to Avenue 204
Road 152 from Avenue 24 to Avenue 40
Avenue 56 from Road 120 to State Route 43
Road 224 from Avenue 96 to Avenue 112
Road 224 from Avenue 304 to 306
Road 112 from Avenue 328 to Avenue 335

Page 4 of 6
 Road 112 from Avenue 164 to Avenue 192
Avenue 120 from Road 268 to Mountain Road 137
Road 296 from Mountain Road 120 to Mountain Road 137
Road 220 from Avenue 300 to Avenue 312
Road 128 from Avenue 186 to Avenue 192
Avenue 192 from Road 128 to Spacer
Road Closures Road 216 from 250 to Avenue 256
Cont. Road 208 from Avenue 158 to Avenue 160
Road 192 from Avenue 168 to Avenue 176
Orange Belt from Avenue 184 to Avenue 194
Road 240 from White River to Avenue 56
Road 182 from State Route 198 to People’s Ditch
Road 152 from Avenue 208 to Avenue 216
Road 200 from Avenue 0 to Avenue 4
Avenue 0 from Road 192 to Road 200
Avenue 176 from Road 192 to Road 202
Avenue 184 from Road 152 to Road192
Avenue 152 to Road 216 to Road 224
Mountain Road 99 from County Line to Mountain Road 50
I Drive from Avenue 184 to Avenue 200
Avenue 184 from the railroad crossing to Highway 99
Reservation Road at Chimney Road
Eastbound State Route 190
Avenue 404 at State Route 245
Pine Flat Drive at Deer Creek
Harris Road at Balch Park Road
Balch Park Road at Milo Bridge
Avenue 196 at Road 256
Pleasant Oaks Drive “Local Traffic Only”
Road 220 at State Route 198
Fir at Hillcrest
Fir at Foothill (Road 224)
State Route 190 at Balch Park Road
Plano at Reid Avenue
Spruce at Marinette
Road 144 at 344
Road 56 northbound at Avenue 352
Dry Creek Road from State Route 216 to State Route 245
Dry Creek Drive from State Route 216 to State Route 245
Honolulu East
Avenue 190 Road 236
Avenue 194 at Diagonal 242
Avenue 416 at Road 168
Road 284 at Worth Drive
Road 220 at Avenue 304
Fir at Harvard
Ward Avenue
Avenue 360 at Road 112
Avenue 240 at Road 168
Springville Drive west of Worth Drive

Page 5 of 6
 Connelly Bridge – South Fork Kaweah River
Bridge Closures Tule River Bridge – Lower Globe Drive
State Route 190 – Tule River
Old Stage – Deer Creek
Manter Meadow Road – Capinero Creek
Road 182 south of Avenue 304
ASSIGNED RESOURCES
Engines: 25 Swift Water Teams: 8 Helicopters: 3 Hand Crews: 25 Ambulances: 15
Bulldozers: 1 Front End Loaders: 3 Excavators: 3 Flat Bed Trucks: 3 UAS: 2
Search & Rescue Teams: 3 Total Personnel: 749
Cooperating Agencies: County of Tulare, City of Porterville, City of Visalia, Tulare County Office of
Emergency Services, American Red Cross, National Weather Service, California Department of Water
Resources, Tulare County RMA, Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, SoCalGas, California
National Guard, California Highway Patrol, California Conservation Corps, California Department of
Transportation, American Ambulance, Imperial Ambulance, California Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation

###

Page 6 of 6