Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Extension of Local Emergency
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution extending the proclamation of local emergency relating to extreme weather conditions and associated impacts.
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BACKGROUND:
Section 8630 of the Government Code and Chapter 2.46 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code authorize the County Executive, in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services (“Director”) and while the Board of Supervisors is not in session, to proclaim a local emergency when the County is threatened by conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the County that are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the County and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat. The Director’s Proclamation of Local Emergency remains in effect for no more than seven days, unless the proclamation has been ratified by the Board of Supervisors.
On January 2, 2023, the Director issued a proclamation of local emergency in San Mateo County due to the damage and impacts resulting from extreme and unprecedented levels of rainfall and associated severe weather that began on December 27, 2022. Communities throughout both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of San Mateo County have suffered from an array of impacts which have created conditions of disaster and extreme peril to the safety of persons and property, including, among other things, severe flooding, disruptions to vehicle traffic, road closures, damage to public and private property, displacement of residents, and impacts to critical public services and infrastructure.
On January 3, 2023, the Board ratified and extended the proclamation of local emergency, which remains in effect. Under Section 8630 of the Government Code and this Board’s resolution, the Board shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the Board terminates the local emergency.
DISCUSSION:
Since the Board’s ratification and extension of the local emergency, continuing severe weather conditions, as anticipated, caused further damage and disruption in the County. These “atmospheric river” events resulted in substantial amounts of rain in San Mateo County in the days following the ratification of the local emergency on January 3, 2023. The rains caused and exacerbated severe flooding, transportation disruption, and strained public service delivery, further impacting the County.
As a result of these conditions, the State of California and federal government have also issued emergency declarations. On January 4, 2023, Governor Newsom proclaimed that a state of emergency exists throughout California in relation to the extreme weather conditions and associated impacts. In addition, on January 14, 2023, President Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration, which provided for individual assistance and public assistance in debris removal and emergency protective measures under the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121) in numerous counties in California. On January 26, 2023, San Mateo County was included in the declaration as eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The impacts of the extreme weather conditions that led to the proclamation of local emergency continue, as does the County’s response to those impacts, including, among other things, the County’s ongoing efforts to clear debris, alleviate public safety risks, address storm-related flooding impacts, repair damage, and respond to residents displaced by the weather conditions.
In light of these circumstances and conditions, it is recommended that the Board extend the proclamation of local emergency, pending review at least once every 60 days to determine the need for its continuation, as required under Section 8630 of the Government Code.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approving the proposed extension may assist with the receipt of mutual aid resources from the State and from neighboring jurisdictions, and in connection with Federal and/or State reimbursement for emergency-related expenses, to the extent eligible and available.