San Mateo County Declares State of Emergency Due To Storm Damage
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) -- The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to declare a state of emergency Friday after recent rain and windstorms caused an estimated $3.4 million in damage, county officials said.
The declaration could make state and federal aid available to pay for repairs and emergency measures related to the storm.
"The emergency declaration enacted Friday provides San Mateo County with additional tools to recover from the recent storm," said Board President Dave Pine.
"Most importantly, it includes the legally required request to the Governor to also proclaim a state of emergency and make state disaster relief funds available to the County," Pine said.
Before the affected counties receive state aid, they must submit an estimate of damage to the Governor's office, said Governor's Office of Emergency Services spokesman Kelly Huston. The Governor then decides whether enough damage has been done to constitute a state of emergency, Huston said.
Huston said the Governor makes a decision pretty quickly after receiving the estimates, but it usually takes time for counties to assess their damage.
Winds gusted to 59 miles per hour and the storm dropped four inches of rain in 48 hours, flooding streams, highways, streets and roads, county officials said.
The storm flooded one mobile home park in Belmont and two in Redwood City.
More than 100 residents of the Belmont mobile home park spent a week in a shelter after the flooding, according to the county Human Services Agency.
Officials with the City of Redwood City ordered residents of the Le Mar Trailer Park and RC Mobile Home Park to evacuate when rains December 11 flooded their homes.
The $3.4 million damage estimate may increase or decrease as officials continue to evaluate the damage, said San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks.
The county may be eligible for reimbursement from the California Disaster Assistance Act as well as from other state sources and federal sources, county officials said.
Residents who suffered losses must wait for the state to review to the county's damage assessment before they know whether they are eligible for state or federal aid.
RECENT STORM COVERAGE:
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