SACRAMENTO – Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an emergency proclamation for Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties due to the effects of severe storms that caused flash flooding, mudslides and fires ignited by lightning strikes, resulting in damage to roads, highways and other infrastructure and the evacuation of residents.
The full text of the emergency proclamation is below:
PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS beginning on July 18, 2015, a series of rainstorms swept across Central and Southern California, bringing high winds, substantial precipitation, lightning strikes, and flooding; and
WHEREAS due to the extreme drought conditions throughout the state, these storms caused flash flooding and mudslides; 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 a bridge on Interstate 10 to collapse in Riverside County, approximately 50 miles west of the California-Arizona border, and access to this highway will be limited for several weeks; and
WHEREAS as a result of mudflows, debris, floods, and erosion, these storms caused damage to roads and highways in numerous California counties, including Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of the storm damage, 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 Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, acting as Governor of the State of California pursuant to article V, section 10 of the California Constitution, and 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 Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.
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 Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego.
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 July 2015.
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GAVIN NEWSOM
Lieutenant Governor of California
ATTEST:
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ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State