By Bay City News.
The Pajaro River levee breached overnight Friday, prompting evacuations.
The construction that prevents the passage of water broke down around midnight, according to a news release from the Monterey County Health Department.
Crews from the county water resources agency and the state department of water resources were on the scene at the time trying to combat the flooding.
Evacuations for most of the community of Pájaro were ordered just before midnight and were expanded shortly thereafter to include all flooded areas in the area.
National Guard High Water Rescue vehicles were stationed in the area to assist in the evacuation effort, which included door-to-door checks by Monterey County Sheriff's deputies, fire crews from Cal Fire and North Monterey County Fire Department.
Levee repairs are expected to take place Saturday during the day.
There are emergency evacuation shelters at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, located at 2601 East Lake Ave., in Watsonville, in the Crosetti Building, and at Compass Church, located at 10325 S. Main Street, in Salinas.
Residents can get transportation to a temporary evacuation point shelter, which is located at the Prunedale Library at 17822 Moro Rd., the Carmel Valley Library at 65 W. Carmel Valley Rd., and the King Library. City, at 402 Broadway Street
For help with animals, you can contact the SPCA at 831-373-2631 and after normal hours at 831-646-5534.
Additionally, the flood warning remains in effect for the Salinas River near Bradley affecting Monterey County, the National Weather Service said Saturday morning.
Minor flooding is forecast for the Salinas River, according to the weather service.
Likewise, the weather service warned motorists not to drive around the barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.
Drivers should be especially careful at night when it's harder to recognize the dangers of flooding, the weather service said. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov.
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