Water damage glossary
Action stage
The river level at which the forecast center says to start monitoring closely. For the Russian River at Guerneville it is 29 feet.
Air mover
A high-velocity fan that speeds evaporation from wet surfaces during drying.
CNRFC
The California Nevada River Forecast Center, the National Weather Service office that issues official Russian River forecasts.
Crest
The highest level a river reaches during a flood event.
Dehumidifier
A machine that removes moisture from the air so wet materials can dry.
Flood stage
The level at a river gauge where flooding begins to affect people and property: 32 feet at Guerneville and 23 feet at Healdsburg.
Mitigation
Emergency work to stop damage from getting worse: extraction, removal of unsalvageable materials and drying.
Moisture mapping
Using meters and thermal imaging to outline the wet areas of a structure.
NFIP
The National Flood Insurance Program, a federal program that writes many U.S. flood policies.
SoCoAlert
Sonoma County's free emergency notification system for evacuations, flood warnings and other emergencies.
Special Flood Hazard Area
Land FEMA maps as having a 1% annual chance of flooding, often called the 100-year floodplain.
Wick line
How high water has climbed up drywall or other materials, often above the visible water line.