Extreme heat keeping Kings River at flood levels

FRESNO COUNTY (KFSN) -- The extreme heat is also creating flooding trouble along the Kings River.

Because this extreme heat will last for several more days, the floodwaters aren't going away anytime soon. The higher the truck, the better for residents evacuating flooded homes in the River Bend RV Park.

Overflow from the Kings River surged across the bridge leading out of the park, but not so deep as to keep Aida Romero from trudging through to collect some of her food.

"Well, look for a place," Romero said when asked what her next move would be. "My house is ruined. I don't have flood insurance."

The water is coming from the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra, and a heat wave is making more of it quickly. Pine Flat Dam is releasing more than 12,000 cubic feet per second - 50 percent more than last month.

Water's rushing from its top spillway for the first time in six years and the river is flowing fast, filling upstream reservoirs and now, living areas designed to flood in times like this.

"This is the fallout right here," John Klassen with the RV park said. "All that snowmelt has to go somewhere. It's running downhill and we happen to be in its path."

The water is slowly invading Klassen's space, so he's gathering everything he can and moving out. But without space on higher ground, he's one of many people forced to uproot their lives and hit the road.

"We've heard about a shelter in Dinuba or one they opened recently in Sanger," he said.