County State of Emergency: Storm Losses Top $3.3 Million

By Christa Bigue, County of San Mateo

The County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors on Friday voted to proclaim a state of emergency because of the severe damage caused by recent storms that began December 11, 2014.

The declaration allows the County to apply for state and federal aid to help pay for repairs, shelter and other emergency measures taken in response to the storms. Initial damage estimates throughout the County are $3,380,000.

San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks informed the Supervisors that this number could increase or decrease as there may be additional economic impact once the full extent of the damage has been ascertained. The Sheriff’s Homeland Security Division and Office of Emergency Services is working with State OES to schedule a tour of the impacted areas of the county beginning on Monday, December 22nd, which may take a few days to complete.

The Board action came one day after more than 100 mobile home park residents were able to return to their homes in unincorporated Belmont after spending a week in a shelter due to a massive flood from heavy rainfall that forced them to evacuate. Additionally, some trailer park residents in Redwood City near Bayshore Boulevard and in South San Francisco near the canal were also forced into temporary shelter.

The Sheriff’s Homeland Division and Area Office of Emergency Services, together with the County’s Director of Public Works, provided a storm damage overview to the Board of Supervisors that included flooding and washed out hillsides. Areas that reported damage include: Harbor Drive in the unincorporated area of Belmont; Scenic Drive in La Honda; San Pedro Valley County Park at Weiler Ranch Road, including a bridge in Pacifica; East Bayshore Road in Redwood City; and South Airport Boulevard in South San Francisco. The City of San Bruno also suffered road and culvert damages on Masson, Eaton and Peninsula Place and stabilized a hillside in San Bruno Park.

The emergency was caused by strong wind-driven rain, high-tide damage, and flooding. The County of San Mateo experienced four inches of rainfall within 48 hours and winds gusting to 59 miles per hour, causing streams and area highways, roads and streets to flood.

In order to coordinate resources among the incorporated cities, towns, special districts and unincorporated County area, the Sheriff’s Homeland Security Division and Area Office of Emergency Services activated the County Operational Area Emergency Operations Center. The primary tasks were tracking and monitoring damages and supporting the field response for evacuations of residents from trailer parks in Belmont and Redwood City.

With the emergency declaration approved by the Board of Supervisors, there is the potential of reimbursement under the California Disaster Assistance Act, as well as additional state or federal reimbursement of expenses incurred by cities, towns, special districts and the County. San Mateo County residents who suffered losses must wait for the state’s response to the County’s assessment of damage to see if they are eligible for state or federal financial relief.

“The emergency declaration enacted today provides San Mateo County with additional tools to recover from the recent storm,” said Dave Pine, President of the Board of Supervisors. “Most importantly, it includes the legally required request to the Governor to also proclaim a state of emergency and make state disaster relief funds available to the County.”

San Mateo County residents are urged to register cell phone numbers at www.smcalert.info to receive emergency alerts via text or email.

--Photo Credit: County of San Mateo