Atmospheric Shiver

A couple of days ago when I heard that Soquel Creek had breached at the Soquel Grange, I experienced deja vu. In 1982 this was the scene on Monday, Jan. 4 following more than 36 hours of continuous rain in Santa Cruz County. Our Santa Cruz Publishing offices were located across Porter Street from the grange. We had to evacuate. PHOTO:KCS

"They say it's a hundred-year storm, but I say bullshit. It's what happens when you live in a floodplain." -- merchant, Soquel village, 1/8/82

                                             

"A state of emergency in Santa Cruz County was declared by Gov. Edmund Brown, Jr. and President Ronald Reagan, following the worst flooding ever in parts of the county." Santa Cruz News, 1/8/82

They called it the Pineapple Express then. Today they call it an Atmospheric River.

Front page of The News, Jan. 8, 1982

We published that week's News on the fly. Our offices were thrashed. Water had risen to four-feet on the inside walls. We did not have computer technology. Composing a newspaper for printing required several hand-operated steps including typesetting and paste-up. -- between the time the story left the typewriter until it reached the printing press. Somehow we did it. Publisher/owner Lee May found a way and we all pitched in using facilities of the Aptos Post.

The destruction throughout Santa Cruz County was similar to what happened this week, worse in the mountains: Downed trees, tons of driftwood floating into Monterey Bay and washing up on local beaches and roads. We lost power for longer periods. Ten people were were buried alive under a mudslide at Love Creek. For many old-timers, it brought back memories of the flood of '55 which submerged downtown and wiped out China Town next to the San Lorenzo River.

The loss of life from the Atmospheric River is one. A 72-year-old man was crushed by a falling tree. We have not seen the likes of the current storm in 41 years. Drought throughout California has not only kept us too dry, but dulled our memories to how powerful and destructive Pacific Ocean storms can be along our Monterey Bay coastline. Rain storms were once common winter occurrences.

Fallen tree in Lighthouse Field State Park marks spot where man died. PHOTOS:KCS 2023 

Car driver stops suddenly to avoid crashing surf.

Onlookers watch waves pelt the cliffs and West Cliff Drive.

Pedestrian-Bike path on West Cliff Drive destroyed by heavy storm surf.

Nothing but white water at Mitchell's Cove.

Another storm is due tonight with a week of rain. Here's hoping we stay safe and dry, and that our reservoir at Loch Lomond reaches capacity. Latest report is at 90-percent.