Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Proclamation of Local Emergency March 2023 Storms
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution ratifying and extending the proclamation of local emergency resulting from severe Winter storms of March 2023 by the San Mateo County Director of Emergency Services.
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BACKGROUND:
Government Code Section 8630 and Chapter 2.46 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code (“Ordinance Code”) authorize the County Executive, as Director of Emergency Services (“Director”) when 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 a local emergency remains in effect for no more than seven days, unless the proclamation is ratified by the Board within that seven-day period.
On January 2, 2023, the Director proclaimed a local emergency in response to the winter storms that began on December 27, 2023. That proclamation was ratified and extended by the Board, currently remains in place, and may again be extended by a separate item being presented to the Board.
On January 4, 2023, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency throughout California related the December 2022 storms and, 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 as eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
On March 8, 2023, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in San Mateo County as a result of winter storms that struck California beginning in late February 2023.
DISCUSSION:
On March 22, 2023, the Director issued a proclamation of local emergency in San Mateo County due to the damage and impacts resulting from the extreme and unprecedented levels of rainfall and associated severe weather events that began on March 8, 2023. Communities throughout both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of San Mateo County, still recovering from past storm events, have suffered from an array of additional impacts which have created conditions of disaster and extreme peril to the safety of persons and property.
These recent conditions have threatened, caused, and/or exacerbated severe flooding, traffic disruptions and road closures, downed trees and power lines, falling debris, power outages, displacement of residents, extraordinary stress upon public service delivery, and other impacts to public and private property, infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. Tragically, at least one individual was killed when a tree fell on their vehicle in unincorporated San Mateo County. These conditions are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the County and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.
In light of current circumstances, it is recommend that the Board ratify and extend the proclamation of local emergency related to the March 2023 storm events. Under the Government Code Section 8630, the Board of Supervisors must review the proclamation of local emergency at least once every 60 days to determine the need for continuing the local emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approving the action recommended here may assist with the receipt of mutual aid resources from the State of California and from neighboring jurisdictions.