Storm Costs Estimated at $17 Million In Sonoma County, Possibly $15 Million in Healdsburg, Alone

The boards of supervisors of Marin and Sonoma counties on Tuesday voted to proclaim a state of local emergency in their counties because of the impacts from last week’s storms.

The proclamation allows the counties to apply for state and federal aid to help pay for repairs.

Late Tuesdays afternoon, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors ratified a proclamation of a local emergency.

[Previous: Sonoma County Supes Expected To Declare Storm Emergency At Tuesday Meeting.]

Chris Helgren, emergency manager of Sonoma County’s Emergency Operations Center, said the county spent $100,000 in equipment, supplies and personnel, and damages to roads, culverts and parks amounted to at least $3 million.

Overall costs and public, private and business damages in Sonoma County are estimated at $17 million, possibly $15 million in Healdsburg alone, Helgren said.

There were 52 road closures countywide and 212 work requests to the Department of Public Works related to flooding, plugged culverts and downed trees, according to emergency operations center officials. Between 6 and 10 inches of rain fell in 48 hours and 3.5 inches in 12 hours during the storms.

Firefighters reported 11 swift water rescues and there were 458 total calls for service, 253 of them storm-related.

Nearly 40 people were sheltered last Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Guerneville Veterans Hall, and nearly 30 people at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial building each night.

“This really was a minor event compared to what has happened in the past,” Helgren said.

Pam Jeane, the Sonoma County Water Agency’s assistant manager of water and wastewater operations, said the December storms helped the county’s drought situation, but the county will need to receive 150 percent of its normal rainfall through the winter and spring to end the drought.

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Marin County Administrator Matthew Hymel told the board of supervisors that estimates to take emergency stabilization measures and final repairs reached $1 million on Monday.

The wind-driven rain, high tide and flooding affected levees and flood control infrastructure, Hymel said. One of the levees along Novato Creek was intentionally breached last Thursday to lower flood water on Novato Creek, and the levee was temporarily repaired after the storm.

There were more than 1,000 emergency calls for service during the storm and 326 significant incidents were reported over 24 hours, Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber said.

Marin County received 4 to 6 inches of rain during the 48-hour storm on last Wednesday and Thursday, and wind gusts were reported at more than 60 mph on the county’s mountain peaks.

Marin County residents who suffered losses must wait for the state’s response to the county’s assessment of damages to see if they are eligible for state or federal financial relief, Hymel said.

--Bay City News

--Image courtesy of Sonoma County Water Agency on Facebook of the Russian River last week at Jenner.