Title
El Dorado County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services recommending the Board find that a state of emergency continues to exist in El Dorado County as a result of the effects of the severe December 2021 storms throughout Northern California, significantly impacting El Dorado County bringing high winds, heavy snow, substantial precipitation, high and fast flowing streams, creeks and rivers which resulted in power outages and damages. (3/22/2022, Item 31)
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
On December 26, 2021 a severe storm fell on El Dorado County, bringing high winds, heavy snow, substantial precipitation, high and fast flowing streams, creeks and rivers which resulted in power outages and damages. Over 19,000 PG and E customers are left without power. Many elderly individuals and other vulnerable citizens are without resources to keep them warm and sheltered. Pollock Pines,Camino,Grizzly Flats, Somerset, Mt. Aukum,most of Georgetown and many areas along the highway 50 corridor are without power. In an effort to preserve life, the Sheriff's Office and Department of Transportation staff may need to pull in additional resources due to the local emergency. El Dorado County has not identified the full extent of damages experienced from the storm due to existing snow on the ground. This proclamation of a local emergency sets in motion El Dorado County's ability to seek assistance from State and Federal resources.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 8630, the Board of Supervisors, or an official designated by the Board by ordinance may declare a Local Emergency. Government Code 8558 defines a Local Emergency as “the proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a county, city and county, or city, caused by conditions such as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, cyberterrorism, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, the Governor’s warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or an earthquake, or other conditions, other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy, which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of that political subdivision and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.” Chapter 2.21 of the County Ordinance Code designates the Sheriff as the Director of the Office of Emergency Services and delegates to the Director the authority to declare a Local Emergency when the Board is not in session. This action must be reviewed and ratified by the Board within 7 days.
Proclamation 013-2022 was signed on January 4, 2022 ratifying the declaration of a local emergency proclaimed by the Director of Emergency Services (Sheriff D'Agostini) due to the December Storm. On December 30, 2021 Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency across the state of California to support the on-going response to December Storms.
This item declares that the emergency continues to exist, which is a requirement to maintain El Dorado County's eligibility for Public Assistance.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to ratify the local state of emergency proclamation. Doing so would put the County at risk of losing funding and impacting our ability to respond to the emergency needs.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT/AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION/COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are no costs or financial impact relative to this recommendation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
CONTACT
Bryan Golmitz, Undersheriff