Title
Adopt a resolution continuing for an additional sixty (60) days, the Proclamation of a Local Emergency for the 2023 March Winter Storms and Atmospheric River Event that started on March 9, 2023, and was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on March 14, 2023.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt a resolution continuing for an additional sixty (60) days, the Proclamation of a Local Emergency for the 2023 March Winter Storms and Atmospheric River Event that started on March 9, 2023, and was ratified by the Board of Supervisors on March 14, 2023.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
An atmospheric river event carried rain across Monterey County beginning on March 9, 2023, which caused widespread localized flooding and power outages across the County, and major flooding along the Salinas and Pajaro River, which flooded residential communities, agricultural fields, and critical infrastructure. These storm events occurred just shortly after the January events which further depleted the County's already resources from the major flood fighting and emergency response operations; the County is still in the middle of recovery.
A Local Emergency was Proclaimed by the County Administrative Officer on March 9, 2023 and ratified by the Board of Supervisors on March 14, 2023.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 8630(a) the County Administrative Officer may proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the county is affected by or likely to be affected by a public calamity. The Government Code requires that an emergency proclamation be ratified by the Board of Supervisors within 7 days of its issuance, and be reviewed at least once every 60 days until the emergency is terminated.
The heavy rain and impacts to watersheds and overwhelming waterways, resulted in a breach of the Pajaro Levee on March 10, 2023. This breach led to life-threatening flooding across the community of Pajaro and caused more than 3,000 resident...
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