Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Extension of Local Emergency Related to December 2022 Winter Storm Events
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution extending the Board’s proclamation of local emergency relating to December 2022 extreme weather conditions and associated impacts.
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BACKGROUND:
Government Code Section 8630 and Chapter 2.46 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code authorize the County Executive, 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 (7) 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 and which 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.
The Board ratified and extended by resolution the proclamation of local emergency on January 3, 2023. The following day, Governor Newsom proclaimed that a state of emergency existed throughout California in relation to the extreme weather conditions and associated impacts. 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, and, on January 26, 2023, San Mateo County was included in the declaration as eligible for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
On February 28, 2023, the Board further extended by resolution the proclamation of local emergency, which remains in place.
Under Government Code Section 8630 and this Board’s resolutions, 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:
The impacts of the extreme weather conditions that began on December 27, 2022 and 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 further extend the proclamation of local emergency, pending review at least once every 60 days to determine the need for its continuation, as required under Government Code Section 8630.
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.