Title
Extend the Proclamation of Local Emergency ratified July 26, 2016 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 on July 22nd, 2016 and continues uncontrolled as of this date.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors extend the Proclamation of Local Emergency ratified July 26, 2016 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 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 Big Sur Communities 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.
DISCUSSION:
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 60% contained at this time, has burned over 104,000 acres and destroyed numerous structures as well as causing damage to critical power, water, wastewater, and communications infrastructure. Residents remain under evacuation orders with fire still a significant threat to values at risk. Over 1000 firefighters continue to combat this fire. The Governor of California issued a state of emergency for Monterey County for July 26th.
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.
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, law enforcement, and recovery 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. Critical non-profits including Community Foundation, United Way, Coastal Properties Owner Association.
FINANCING:
Damage to date has been to privately owned, county, state and federal lands. Damage to county public infrastructure could exceed $8,000,000. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for firefighting and fire support costs. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services CalOES has authorized reimbursement through the California Disaster Assistance Act for eligible costs for recovery. Cost accounting codes were provided to Department heads to assist them with tracking their costs.
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Prepared by: Sherrie Collins, Emergency Services Manager
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Approved by: Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant CAO
Attachment: Resolution of Local Emergency dated September 20, 2016