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Review the January 18, 2017 Proclamation of Local Emergency; Adopt a resolution confirming the need for continuing the local emergency or a Proclamation Terminating the Local Emergency if the conditions merit; and Adopt a resolution designating the County Administrator as the Authorized Agent for Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes No X
Public Hearing Required? Yes No X
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
Review the January 18, 2017 Proclamation of Local Emergency; Adopt a Proclamation Terminating the Local Emergency; and Adopt a resolution designating the County Administrator as the Authorized Agent for Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On January 18, 2017, Birgitta Corsello, County Administrator, signed a Proclamation of Local Emergency due to winter storm damage incurred from the storms that started January 8, 2017. The majority of the damage occurring on January 10, 2017
A representative from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services met with Solano County Office of Emergency Services and Resource Management Department staff on January 25, 2017. The Initial Damage Estimate process was discussed and a tour of three road damage sites was completed. State officials met with FEMA representatives on January 26, 2017 to present Initial Damage Estimates from 49 California Counties in an effort to obtain a Federal disaster declaration.
The Solano County Office of Emergency Services shared the information received during the visit with our cities and the following damage estimate totals were forwarded to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on January 26, 2017.
Solano County (unincorporated areas) $2,000,000
Reclamation Districts (Suisun Marsh and Delta) $1,780,000
Cumulative from Cities $4,654,000
Totaling in the Operational Area = $8,434,000
In preparation for the Governor’s request to the President for a Declaration of Major Disaster, Solano County Office of Emergency Services coordinated with the State Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete the Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDA) on January 30-31, 2017. The State and Federal representative visited four cities, Benicia, Fairfield, Vacaville and Vallejo, and County Resource Management to view some of the heavily impacted areas and validate the initial estimates submitted.
On February 14, 2017, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the California Storms that occurred in between the dates of January 3-12, 2017 to include Solano County. Assistance to the affected local governments can include:
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health. Emergency protective measures assistance is available to State, tribal and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis. (Source: FEMA funded, State administered.)
• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas, and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, State administered.)
• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by State, tribal, and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters. (Source: FEMA funded, State administered.)
On February 6, 2017, another storm surge hit Solano County and continued to intensify damages within the Operational Area. At the February 7, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, at the request of the County Administrator and County Counsel, the Board confirmed that a local emergency was still present in the County and authorized the County Administrator to approve all contracts in amounts up to $2,000,000 for supplies, facilities, personnel and services to deal with the local emergency in consultation with the Solano County Board of Supervisors, the Emergency Services Manager and the Resource Management Director.
At the March 7, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, at the request of the County Administrator and County Counsel, the Board confirmed that a local emergency was still present in the County due to the continued response of government entities and continuing road closures.
As of today, the weather services are not forecasting severe rains storms for the coming months. The County Administrator’s Office and the Solano County Office of Emergency Services believes that the need for continuing the proclamation has waned. The Solano County Office of Emergency Services will continue to work with cities and county departments to ensure accurate data is forwarded to the state and federal agencies handling the storm recovery efforts.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to the county by terminating the Local Emergency Proclamation as the threat of further storm damage no longer exists.
Damage sustained by the County and cities from the series of storms starting on January 8, 2017 up until and through April 4, 2017, is covered under the monthly proclamations approved by your Board.
The Solano County Office of Emergency Services, the Resource Management Department, and the Department of General Services, along with city officials, attended the recent FEMA reimbursement application workshop. The County and cities will each be responsible for submitting their reimbursement applications.
There are no individual assistance programs available at this time. Even though the Federal Government has Declared a Major Disaster for these storms, Individual Assistance (IA) has not been authorized. If IA becomes available, it will consist of limited grant funds and possibly low interest loans and Small Business Administration loans.
ALTERNATIVES:
Continue the Proclamation of Local Emergency. The law requires all Local Emergency Proclamations be ratified by the governing body within seven (7) days and review at least once every 30 days by the governing body thereafter until termination.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Solano County Office of Emergency Services, the Sheriff, the Resource Management Department and the County Administrator’s Office will provide updates to the Board as the recovery effort continues.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION