Riverland Resort in Kingsburg evacuated as Kings River floods
KINGSBURG, Calif. (KFSN) -- Water from the Kings River is inching into Riverland Resort in Kingsburg minute by minute, forcing some 300 people who call this place home to leave with very little warning.
"When I woke up at 6:30 a.m., it was already halfway up in the parking lot and now we can't even see the parking lot," resident Marvin Loman said.
Loman moved his family to this shaded area in the park because his lot near the river was sitting in feet of water. He says after spending $700 on rent, and this is where they'll have to stay for now.
"I don't have the money," he said. "I already paid my rent. I got a place to go, but it's flooded. What can we do?"
It's a tough reality for his daughter Liz. She is four months pregnant and is trying to find comfort under the shade during the triple digit heat.
"It's terrible," she said. "It's really hot. I almost passed out at least once today since I woke up."
Firefighters say the lake in the resort rose 25 feet in 12 hours - causing crews to work around the clock to fill spots with sand to create barriers for the homes.
In the meantime, PG&E workers shut off power to avoid electrical surges. It's another reason why many families are quickly taking off.
"Some of them have two, three trailers on their property and trying to get them out in a timely manner obviously takes a little bit," Capt. Joe Rosa with Tulare County Fire said.
It's all a shock for Marvin Loman - a man who envisioned his Father's Day turning out differently.
"102 degrees and never thought we'd be caught by a flood," he said. "I guess Noah is coming."
Inmate crews with the Tulare County Sheriff's Department and Cal Fire are also out making sandbags. The Red Cross has even opened up a shelter in Dinuba.
