The State of California, including Contra Costa County, has been responding to extreme and uncommon weather events that began on December 27, 2022. A series of severe rainstorms has led to widespread flooding, mudslides, sinkholes, and damage to public infrastructure, including flood control facilities and roadways across the state. The effects of the storms continue to be dynamic and have persisted through the months of February and March.
These conditions are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the County. The majority of the damage has occurred on or along county-maintained roads and flood control infrastructure.
County Administrator Issues January 2023 Emergency Proclamation
In response to the damage from the January storms, the County Administrator issued an emergency proclamation on January 10, 2023, which allows the County to seek reimbursement from state and federal sources. Subsequent to the action of the County Administrator, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a disaster declaration on January 14, 2023 for most areas within California, including Contra Costa County. The Board of Supervisors ultimately ratified the County Administrator’s emergency proclamation on January 17, 2023.
Federal Cost Recovery Authorized
FEMA’s disaster declaration authorized both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Contra Costa County. Individual Assistance allowed residents negatively impacted by the disaster to pursue federal relief directly through FEMA and other agencies. Public Assistance allows the County and municipalities negatively impacted by the disaster to pursue cost recovery through the Robert T. Stafford Act up to a 75% federal share of the eligible costs of the damage. FEMA has closed the window for residents to submit applications for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance claims are due in the coming months. Typically, Public Assistance reimbursement claims take up to 36 months for a final disposition from FEMA to the jurisdiction making the claim.
County Administrator Issues March 2023 Emergency Proclamation
The Federal disaster incident period for the January 2023 storm events was December 27, 2022 through January 31, 2023; however, California continues to be impacted by uncommon weather activity causing significant damage to public infrastructure.
At the request of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), the County Administrator issued a subsequent emergency proclamation on March 28, 2023, specifically noting that the County has continuously been responding to storm damage since January. The goal is to seek federal reimbursement for eligible storm related costs incurred by the County up to the 75% federal cost share level.
Today’s action requests that the Board of Supervisors ratify the actions of the County Administrator on March 28, 2023, proclaiming a local emergency due to uncommon weather conditions within the County.
The attached proclamation of a local emergency is necessary to potentially claim reimbursement for cost impacts incurred as part of responding to the storms.