Santa Rosa flooding traps hundreds at Sutter Health clinic, Hampton Inn

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Rising floodwaters in Santa Rosa stranded more than 300 people at a hotel and medical clinic, Santa Rosa Fire officials told KTVU Thursday, as the North Bay once again saw heavy rain from an atmospheric river. 

Along Airway Drive in Santa Rosa, cars were trapped in parking lots at Sutter Health and the Hampton Inn. 

Video shows water rising as high as the headlights on parked cars.

"There's a lot of outpatient people and a lot of sick people, especially like the whole entire infusion center on the top floor with people getting chemo," Danielle Perlenfein, a Sonoma County resident at the scene said, expressing concern that more wasn't done to clear debris ahead of time and prevent the creek nearby from overflowing. 

Some patients who drove from far away for imaging appointments arrived and tried to wade through the water that was knee-deep in spots.

"Everything is evacuated. All the appointments are canceled, and it's very cold and wet," said Naomi Grimm, a Healdsburg mother who had driven to Santa Rosa to take her daughter to an appointment.

Another woman who gave just her first name, Margaret, said she drove from Ukiah for her appointment.

"I was going to stay overnight at the Hampton Inn, and I won't be able to get there, so I guess I'll have to drive back home or get another hotel," Margaret said.

Michael Rockett, owner of Transport Care, said he had just dropped off a patient an hour earlier at the Sutter Health center and then went to drop off another patient. 

In just one hour, when he returned, the entire road was flooded.

"I spoke with the daughter of the client who's 80 years old. The daughter says she's trying to organize that the firemen get her out here, whether by boat. The lady's in a wheelchair," Rockett said.

"We're also working right now with city crews to get a lot of the streets and parking lots in this general area closed," Lowenthal said. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for Sutter Health said, "Due to extreme weather and flooding, we evacuated our care center at 3883 Airway Drive in Santa Rosa for the safety of patients and staff. The evacuation was carried out smoothly, thanks to the coordinated efforts of local officials, including Santa Rosa Fire and Police. We sincerely thank them for their support. We encourage patients at this location to reach out to their provider’s office for updates on scheduling and ongoing care."

At a nearby El Pollo Loco, a driver told KTVU he was driving through the parking lot, when the ground below him started sinking. His BMW went straight into the hole. Santa Rosa fire crews responded and used a ladder to help him get out of the car that was surrounded by water. 

As the rain subsided slightly, some of the flooded streets and parking lots drained.

Around 3:30 p.m., the Sutter Health clinic was evacuated as water began receding, according to the Santa Rosa Fire Department. 

Fire crews and a swift water rescue team were able to get patients safely out by 4 p.m. but officials reported at least eleven other flooded areas in the city.

Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties remain under a flood watch until Saturday at 4 a.m., the National Weather Service reports.

The heavy rain will continue through Thursday evening, into Friday morning, the agency said.

As of Thursday morning, Santa Rosa had seen it's second-wettest 24-hour period in the last 120 years, according to the fire department.