Storm and flood damage in Guerneville, CA

Guerneville · Local guide · Updated October 18, 2026

Storm flooding brings outside water into homes from rivers, creeks, storm drains and hillside runoff. It's treated as contaminated, and it's usually excluded from standard homeowners policies. Here's how that plays out in Guerneville & the lower Russian River, what to do right now, and how to reach an independent, licensed local provider. Call (628) 336-1777 any time, or use the form on this page.

Storm and flood damage in Guerneville: what we see

Guerneville is the county's best-known flood town. Flood stage at the gauge is 32 feet, the record is 49.5 feet from February 1986, and in February 2019 the river reached 45.38 feet (CNRFC). The NWS says roughly 2,000 properties in Guerneville and Monte Rio had some flood damage in 2019 (NWS).

The local picture

Where floodwater comes from. Knowing the local water sources helps you read warnings. Guerneville is shaped by the Russian River, which floods low areas in big winters.

Low ground and runoff. Elevation and slope determine whether water arrives as a flood or as runoff. Guerneville spans the narrow lower Russian River canyon, with steep wooded slopes and low river flats.

Neighborhoods include Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido and the other lower river communities. Conditions vary from street to street, so a provider should look at your specific home rather than assume.

What to do right now

1. Follow SoCoAlert and official instructions, and leave early if told to.
2. Don't walk or drive through floodwater.
3. Once it's safe, turn off power to flooded areas, or have an electrician do it.
4. Photograph water levels and damage before cleanup.
5. Call your insurer (flood policy if you have one) and a restoration provider.

Guerneville checklist

• Know the gauge height at which water reaches your home, and plan to leave before then.
• Sign up for SoCoAlert.
• Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
• Keep important documents and valuables off lower floors.
• Ask your agent about flood insurance before you need it.

Local resources for Guerneville

• Permits: Permit Sonoma (unincorporated county)
• Emergency alerts: SoCoAlert, the County's free notifications
• Sandbags: Sonoma County sandbag locations, updated during weather events
• Contractor licenses: CSLB license check

How a provider handles it

Providers extract water and mud, remove porous materials the floodwater touched, clean and disinfect, and dry the structure with documented readings before rebuilding. For the full picture, read our complete guide and the deep dive Russian River flood stages. We also have a storm-season article: Burn-scar runoff flooding in Santa Rosa.

Before you hire anyone, check the license on the CSLB site. Here's how we vet providers.

More for Guerneville

• Water damage in Guerneville & the lower Russian River: our full local page
• Storm and flood damage service
• Russian River flood cleanup in Guerneville, Monte Rio and Rio Nido: our in-depth local guide
• Burst pipe water damage in Guerneville
• Crawlspace flooding in Guerneville
• Sewage backup cleanup in Guerneville
• Appliance and water heater leaks in Guerneville
• Same problem nearby: storm flooding in Forestville, storm flooding in Sebastopol, storm flooding in Healdsburg
• Storm and flood damage in every Sonoma County town

Sources

• SoCoAlert sign-up
• Sonoma County sandbag locations
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• CDC: flood safety
• CSLB license check

Sources checked October 18, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or medical advice. Sources are linked in the text. Sonoma County Water Damage is a referral service and doesn't perform the work.