Mendocino County residents faced dual challenges as part two of an atmospheric river caused flooding and widespread power outages on Friday, while fraudsters targeted locals with a sophisticated banking scam.
Storm Impact
More than 5,300 Mendocino County residents were without power Friday morning, with the majority on the coast. The powerful storm toppled trees and downed power lines, leading to significant road closures. Rising waters from the Garcia, Navarro, and Russian rivers forced the shutdown of Highway 1 at Point Arena, State Route 128 between Navarro and the coast, and Highway 175 between U.S. 101 and McDowell Street.
But the impact of the storm was short-lived. By mid-afternoon, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) had restored power to all but 1,230 customers and the flood waters were starting to recede,
“The storm was pretty significant early this morning,” said PG&E spokesperson Paul Moreno. Moreno warned that another storm system, while less impactful, is expected Monday, and he said the county is not yet out of the woods. “The effects of these storms can be cumulative,” he explained, citing the risk of mudslides and weakened tree root systems.
PG&E activated its Emergency Operations Center to streamline response efforts and coordinate resources. Crews from unaffected areas have been assisting. “Hopefully, we’ll wrap this up within a few days and get back to more normal storm-type conditions,” Moreno said.
Fraud Threats Emerge
As the storm battered the region, criminals exploited the situation, targeting Mendocino County residents with an elaborate phone scam. Fraudsters posed as representatives from Mendocino Savings Bank, and other banks, such as Wells Fargo, using spoofed caller IDs to mimic the banks' official phone numbers.
Anna Scott, the bank’s security officer, described the scam: “Customers received calls claiming there was suspicious activity on their accounts, like a $700 Amazon purchase. The caller would then ask for personal information, including debit card numbers, PINs, and Social Security numbers.”
In some cases, fraudsters attempted to impersonate customers by calling the bank to increase debit card spending limits. Fraudulent transactions traced to foreign locations followed, indicating an organized effort.
Scott emphasized the importance of skepticism: “If someone calls claiming to be your bank, don’t provide personal information. Always call the bank back directly using the number on your statement or card.”
Community Resilience
While floodwaters began receding and most weather warnings were lifted by Friday afternoon, residents remain vigilant. A flood warning remains in effect for Hopland until 4:36 a.m. Saturday. PG&E crews continue restoring power to approximately three hundred customers who are still without power as storm hazards subside.
Both the storm and the scam highlight the resilience and caution needed in Mendocino County during emergencies. As Scott noted, no one is immune to sophisticated fraud schemes, underscoring the need for awareness and proactive measures.
For residents, the advice is clear: as storm cleanup progresses, safeguard not just your property but your personal information.
