Flood, evacuation warnings issued in Paso Robles as Salinas River rises

Sara Kassabian

The city of Paso Robles issued evacuation warnings for neighborhoods near the Salinas River due to rising water levels on Friday, as the National Weather Service sent out a flood warning for the inundated waterway.

City emergency services staff also were preparing to close the 13th Street Bridge due to the potential flooding of the river. Motorists were urged to prepare alternative routes, according to a news release from the City of Paso Robles.

“Flooding near the river in #Atascadero and #PasoRobles is occurring or will when the river crests this afternoon,” the NWS Los Angeles office said in a tweet. “This is a DANGEROUS situation. Move away from the river.”

Residents living near the river in the lower Navajo Avenue area and south Paso Robles Street should prepare to evacuate, the city said.

The rain is expected to continue for the next 12 hours.

Residents of the following streets should expect to hear from Paso Robles Emergency Services staff and prepare to evacuate:

  • 70-84 Navajo Ave.

  • 406 and 390 Paso Robles St.

  • 3700 and 3730 Spring St.

  • 1509 and 1911 North River Road

If evacuations are deemed necessary an official evacuation order will be issued and a shelter will be established.

Flood debris and runoff rush down the Salinas River near downtown Templeton on Friday morning, March 10, 2023.
Flood debris and runoff rush down the Salinas River near downtown Templeton on Friday morning, March 10, 2023.

River Road is closed from Navajo to 13th Street and from Union Road to River Oaks Drive, the release said, but the Niblick Bridge and the 24th Street Bridge remained open as of midday Friday.

Early Friday, Urban Search and Rescue teams assisted Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services with a water rescue in the Salinas River.

Call 805-227-7236 with questions about the evacuation warnings.

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