Heavy rains continued to cause flooding in towns across Northern California?s wine country on Sunday. One man, DeeWayne Jackson, 63, died on Saturday when a tree fell on him in a park in Vacaville during the storm, the Solano County Coroner?s Office said. Days of heavy storms swelled rivers and caused flooding and disruption in Napa, the heart of a region renowned for its wines, as well as in other towns north of San Francisco.

?Minor flooding is expected along the upper Napa River late Sunday evening and minor flooding is expected along the upper Russian River late tonight and Monday morning,? the service said late on Sunday. Major flooding hit Guerneville in Sonoma County, the largest resort town along the Russian River, an area of giant redwood trees where some businesses and homes were under water.

?People are reluctant to leave the river area, so there is concern there, especially if the rains continue,? said Jean Alves, spokeswoman of the Sonoma County emergency operations center. Poor road conditions also forced the closure of the main casino in the region, she said. Officials in Napa, which saw flooding on its streets on Saturday, said the worst had passed and added the Napa River was below flood levels by Sunday afternoon. The 4,000 people who were displaced were allowed back, with some finding homes damaged by water or mudslides.

In Forestville on Sunday, a two-lane road leading into neighboring Guerneville remained flooded, as were several streets in the area. But local residents appeared undaunted, going about their daily activities as the rain returned. One couple walked their dog as they tried to survey the flood damage to houses and trailers.

Another couple drove to the edge of a flooded street with their groceries, then hopped into a small boat and rowed to their house. Risks remained, and one driver surveying the region had to brake to avoid a falling tree. Authorities reported plucking some people from the waters, in some cases by carrying them out on their backs and in others by using a helicopter.

Kimberly WHITE