A 9-year-old autistic girl who is unable to speak went missing from her waterfront home in Clearlake on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
Mikaela Lynch was last seen in the yard of her home at 15197 Harbor Lane in Clearlake, police said.
The girl's mother reported her missing around 1:30 p.m.
Police and volunteers were searching door to door and in the water for Mikaela, who is described as 4 feet tall, 70 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Because of the circumstances, her age and inability to speak, police put out a special "at-risk missing juvenile" alert at 3:07 p.m.
The girl's home is located on Cache Creek in the Highlands Harbor neighborhood.
"Their house is right on the water," said Sgt. Nick Bennett of the Clearlake Police Department.
The California Highway Patrol and Lake County Sheriff's Department are assisting in the search, including the sheriff's department's marine unit.
A resident of Harbor Lane said a search and rescue team searched her backyard looking for the girl.
"You couldn't believe all the police. I thought it was a shootout," said the woman, who asked that she not be identified.
Most of the homes on the street have yards that lead right up to the creek, she said.
"We're so close to water, so I'm worried about that," she said.
Emergency personnel remained on scene late Sunday evening and could not be reached for an update.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to call police at 994-8251.
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