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Employees Evacuated From Yosemite Valley

YOSEMITE — A mandatory evacuation notice has been issued for all non-essential personnel for the Yosemite Valley as of 4 p.m. today, according to a notice issued by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.

“This decision was made based on high projected water levels and the high likelihood of utility system failures,” states the notice. “The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the National Weather Service and Yosemite National Park Service to monitor the rain and river forecast. We have staff present in the El Portal Community for a quick response if needed.”

Several closures have been initiated in the Yosemite Valley area, and per Yosemite National Park Service the following closures will occur:

  • As of 5 p.m. on Friday Jan. 6, all visitors were asked to leave Yosemite Valley.
  • Road closures are in place on the Wawona Road at Chinquapin, with the gate at Bridalveil Fall locked; at Parkline on the El Portal Road; and the south side of the Foresta Junction on the Big Oak Flat Road. Other areas will remain open (conditions permitting) to residents and the public. Residents in Foresta, Hodgdon Meadow, Yosemite West, and Wawona will continue to be able to leave Yosemite via open roads throughout the event (conditions permitting).
  • Once the Valley roads close on Saturday, no travel in or out of Yosemite Valley will be permitted until flood waters recede and roadways have been inspected for hazards which would impede safe travel.

For details on the closures issued yesterday for the Yosemite Valley, click here.

If you haven’t signed up for emergency alerts from the Sheriff’s Office, do so now — it only takes a minute.

In Madera County, MCAlert is used in the event of emergencies or natural disasters such as floods and severe weather, and for locating missing persons, through Amber or Silver Alerts when necessary. You can be notified by cell phone, home phone, text or email. Register online here, or simply text your zip coded to 888777.

Mariposa County residents can sign up for their alert system at http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=82 or by texting their zip code to 888777.

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Sierra News Online

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