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Flash Flood — Sacramento, CA

Jan 2, 1997

The heavy rains brought the Cosumnes River to record flows above designed limits for the protective levees. Twenty breaks occurred, with the largest near the town of Wilton in the southern end of the county. The surging floodwaters inundated 33,000 acres of cropland and 84 homes. Emergency workers effected several roof-top and car-top rescues by boat and helicopter. The single death occurred at the Cosumnes River bridge near the town of McConnel.

Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5590338). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.

Flood Risk Context for Sacramento, CA

This event is one of many recorded floods in Sacramento County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.

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