A new study warns of potentially disastrous gridlock during a wildfire evacuation in Sonoma Valley.
The Valley of the Moon Alliance commissioned the study, which found that residents could spend up to nine hours in traffic, moving at walking speed, during an evacuation. The study challenges previous estimates that downplayed the impact of proposed developments, like the Sonoma Developmental Center, on evacuation times. Researchers say the valley’s limited evacuation routes, Highway 12 and Arnold Drive, are insufficient for the current population, let alone with additional housing.
They point to the 2017 Nuns Fire as a reminder of the danger and emphasize the need for better planning and infrastructure improvements to avoid a potential tragedy. The community is invited to a meeting on February 24th at Altimira Middle School to discuss the study’s findings.
