CHICO, Calif. -- Heavy rain on Thursday brought flash floods to the California Highway 99 near Chico which halted traffic.
Officers with the California Highway Patrol halted traffic in both directions on Highway 99 just North of Neal Road.
A 50 -yard stretch of highway was flooded with more than two feet of water in some areas. Traffic was backed up for miles and more than an hour as the road flooded over.
The Butte County Sherriff’s Department called for evacuations along Honey Run Road which was also flooded out.
The Butte County Sheriff's Department issued evacuation orders for several areas including:
- Hamlin Canyon and Lower Neal zones (due to Flooding).
- Esquon road from Mesa north to the end of Esquon, including garden road over to 1624 Garden Road.
- Centerville Road from Harris Hills Road North to Nimshew Road. Residents are being asked to Shelter in Place.
- Honey Run Road from Skyway up to town of Paradise limits, including all roads off Honey Run - including Centerville Road from Honey Run up to Harris Hills Road and all roads off Centerville.
Around 2:30 p.m. the Chico Police Department issued a code red alert for a flash flood warning in the areas of Bruce Road from Chico Canyon Road to Skyway.
Several families in the evacuation warning areas stayed home despite the warnings. ABC10's Ananda Rochita spoke with one woman who said she wanted to stay so she could take care of her home. Her fear comes from nearly losing her home in the Camp Fire exactly three weeks ago.
“We could see it. That was scary. Cause it’s fire. It’s so destructive. It has no mercy," said Marie Rappa, a Durham resident. "Whereas with this, with the flooding, yes it’s uncomfortable. Not something you ever want to deal with. With the flood it’s water. Hopefully it’s only gonna get so high. Our family has taken precautions.”
Rappa's husband even went out to make sure other homes were safe after the Butte County Sheriff's office went through to let people know the area was under an evacuation order.
In addition to taking care of their home, Rappa said she didn't want to scare her children with a second evacuation.
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