SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo and Ventura counties due to the effects of severe winter storms that caused damage to roads and highways throughout the state as a result of mudflows, debris, flooding and erosion. Today’s proclamation directs Caltrans to formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program.
The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services continues to work with other impacted counties to complete damage assessments and evaluate the need for additional action to help communities respond to and recover from the effects of these storms.
The full text of the emergency proclamation is below:
A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS beginning on November 30, 2014, a series of rainstorms of increasing severity swept across California, bringing high winds, substantial precipitation, and flooding; and
WHEREAS these severe storms caused harm to people and property by damaging public and private facilities, forcing the evacuation of residents, and requiring the opening of emergency shelters; and
WHEREAS these storms caused damage to roads and highways throughout the state as a result of mudflows, debris, floods, and erosion; and
WHEREAS these conditions require continuing emergency response, including significant repair and reconstruction work and debris removal; and
WHEREAS the damage caused by this series of storms has impacted numerous California counties, including Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, and Ventura; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of these storms, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the storm damage in the counties of Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, and Ventura; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the counties of Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, and Ventura.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Caltrans shall formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, title 23 United States Code section 125, in order to obtain federal assistance for highway repairs or reconstruction in the counties of Marin, Mendocino, San Mateo, and Ventura.
2. All agencies of the state government shall utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities related to this state of emergency consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 22nd day of December 2014.
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EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
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DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State