Title
Adopt Resolution to:
Ratify and extend the County Administrative Officer’s Proclamation of Local Emergency due to wildfires causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property nearby (4/5th vote required)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors ratify and extend a Proclamation of Local Emergency in accordance with California Government Code § 8630 to assist the operations of Monterey County in the response to and recovery from the Soberanes Fire which began at approximately 8:30 a.m.on July 22nd, 2016 and continues uncontrolled as of this date.
SUMMARY:
Pursuant to Section 2.68.060 of the Monterey County Code and Section 8630 of the Government Code, the County Administrative Officer or his designee, or the Board of Supervisors is empowered to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the County is affected by a public calamity.
At approximately 8:30 am on Saturday, July 22nd, 2016 a fast moving wildfire broke out in the area of Monterey County and quickly destroyed numerous residences and hundreds of acres of valuable forest and watershed; and resulted in evacuations and displacement of residents, road closures, areas of isolation, damage to property, utility systems, and critical infrastructure. The Soberanes Fire is causing conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property from Carmel Highlands to Palo Colorado and eastward to Rancho San Carlos/White Rock/Rancho San Clemente communities. Extremely dry conditions caused by prolonged drought have coupled with years of underbrush growth to create an extreme fire hazard and erratic fire behavior throughout the State of California, including Monterey County.
Efforts to bring the wildfire under control and to assist the affected population with evacuation, care and shelter immediately involved county government and public works officials; county, State and federal fire, law, and emergency services; American Red Cross, SPCA, CERT, and other volunteer and private sector assets. The fire, which is 5% contained at this time, has burned over 11,000 acres and destroyed numerous structures as well as causing damage to critical power, water, wastewater, and communications infrastructure. Over 1600 residents are under imminent threat from the fire.
Conditions existing throughout the fire to date are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the County of Monterey and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions, county partners and stakeholders to combat. The conditions of extreme peril warrant and necessitate the proclamation of the existence of a local emergency and immediate action to mitigate and recover from the effects of the local emergency.
Action by the Board of Supervisors as recommended herein will document the extreme nature of the fire and its effects on the local communities. The County Administrative Office and Office of Emergency Services will update the Board of Supervisors periodically concerning the emergency and efforts to assess, plan for, remove, abate, restore and mitigate the hazardous conditions that continue to threaten the area at this time.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The hazard abatement, mitigation, and recovery efforts will involve the cooperation and assistance of local, State and federal fire suppression and law enforcement resources; County Public Works, Resource Management Agency, Public Health, Environmental Health and Office of Emergency Services assets; the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services; local fire districts; American Red Cross; SPCA for Monterey County and CalFire.
FINANCING:
Damage to date has been to privately owned and state lands. Impacts to county public infrastructure has not yet be assessed but could be extensive. The response to the Soberances Fire by all local, county, state and federal resources must be absorbed by each individual department. Cost accounting codes were provided to Department heads to assist them with tracking their costs.
Prepared by: ____________________________________
Sherrie L. Collins, CEM, Emergency Services Manager
Approved by:____________________________________
Nicholas E. Chiulos; Assistant County Administrative Officer
Attachments:
Resolution of Local Emergency - Soberanes Fire
Soberanes Fire Emergency Proclamation Local Emergency dated July 23, 2016