To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Emergency Management Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chris Godley, Emergency Management Director
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
2019 Russian River Flood Event
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Adopt FY 2018-19 Budgetary Resolution programming $2.5 million for immediate response to the 2019 Russian River Flood Event. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
February 2019 atmospheric rivers caused the most severe flooding on the Russian River in more than two decades, as well as causing serious flooding along creeks and rivers throughout the County, mudslides, power outages, and other damage. On February 26, 2019 the Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency, and on February 28, 2019 Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency for Sonoma County and other affected counties. After reviewing current conditions in the flooded areas, the County Health Officer proclaimed a local health emergency on March 6, 2019 due to the presence of significant household hazardous waste in the flood zone that requires proper disposal.
Staff is requesting to program $2.5 million for initial response and debris removal costs. This is an initial action to address immediate needs and total response costs will be brought back to the Board in a future meeting. Assuming the state and federal agencies approve public assistance for Sonoma County, the County would be eligible for reimbursement of emergency response costs up to 93.75%.
Discussion:
On February 12, 2019, an atmospheric river struck Sonoma County, causing moderate flooding. Beginning on February 25, 2019 a second and more severe atmospheric river hit Sonoma County, dropping approximately 7 inches of rain in Santa Rosa and more than 20 inches in Venado, located in the hills west of Healdsburg. This rain fell on ground already saturated by the previous storm, and at 4:00 PM on February 26, the Russian River exceeded flood stage of 32 feet in Guerneville. It continued to rise until 9:00 PM on February 27, when it crested at over 45 feet, the highest level since 1995. In anticipation of the flood, an evacuation notice was issued for approximately 3,800 residents, with shelter and aid provided to flood evacuees.
On February 26, 2019 the Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency in Sonoma County (Attachment A) and requested that the Governor declare a State of Emergency, which allows the County and other local governments to access state funds and resources to respond to and recover from the impacts of the storm. On February 28, 2019 Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in Sonoma County and other affected counties.
As of March 5, 2019, Permit Sonoma staff assessed damage on more than 2,000 properties in the lower Russian River Area. Of the structures assessed, 35 have received red tags, which means that the building is damaged and poses an imminent threat to life or safety under expected loads or other unsafe conditions; and 600 have received yellow tags, which means inspectors determined that they pose some risk as a result of damage to the building.
This item recommends programming $2.5 million for immediate response costs associated with the 2019 Russian River Flood Event. Overall, beyond initial response cost, early county-wide private and public damage estimates stand at over $150 million.
By contrast the 2017 Wildfire Disaster County costs are estimated at approximately $36 million, which includes $1.9 million of non-public assistance eligible expenses needed to address immediate residents’ needs. Total private and public damage from the 2017 Wildfire Disaster is estimated at $10 billion.
Prior Board Actions:
02/26/2019 Approved contingencies of $75,000 to respond to 2/14/2019 flood event cleanup
02/26/2019 Proclamation of Local Emergency
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 18-19 Adopted |
FY19-20 Projected |
FY 20-21 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
2,500,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
2,500,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund |
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State California Disaster Assistance Act |
1,875,000 |
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Total Maximum Daily Limit Fund |
250,000 |
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Transportation and Public Works Special Concession Fund |
250,000 |
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Contingencies |
125,000 |
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Total Sources |
2,500,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
It is anticipated that up to75%, or $1.875 million, of this $2.5 million amount will be reimbursed by the State. This item appropriates $2.5 million: $250,000 from the Total Maximum Daily Limit (TMDL) fund; $250,000 from the Transportation and Public Works Special Concession fund; $125,000 from the Board of Supervisors’ Contingency fund; and in anticipation of the State approving our claim, this item also recognizes $1,875,000 in revenue from the California Disaster Assistance Act (CDAA). In the event our claim is not approved, we would come back to the Board for an update.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment A: Proclamation of Local Emergency
Attachment B: 2019 Russian River Flood Event Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None