To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Ratification of Local Emergency Proclamation Due to the 6.4 Magnitude Earthquake Occurring on December 20, 2022
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
Ratify the resolution proclaiming the existence of a local emergency due to the 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurring on December 20, 2022.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
On December 20, 2022, at 0234 hours, a strong and violent 6.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in Humboldt County. The earthquake has caused an imminent threat to public safety and significant damage to public and private property, exceeding available county resources. Additionally, 50+ aftershocks have occurred. The damaged caused by the earthquake includes, but is not limited to: damaged homes, damaged bridges, cracked roadways, landslides, downed trees, downed power lines, damage and loss of commercial structures, loss of telephone services, damage to community water storage, damaged water lines, damaged gas lines, and two deaths as well as 11+ injuries. This has required multiple state and local agencies to respond to and provide for public safety, emergency medical response, collapsed buildings, damaged roadways, damage assessment, vehicle access, mass care and sheltering, debris-roadway clearing and the provision of emergency services. The extent of the damages has exceeded the available resources of local jurisdictions.
Humboldt County Code section 2210-7 allows to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the Board of Supervisors is not in session and requires that the Board take action to ratify the proclamation within seven (7) days thereafter.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The ratification of the resolution proclaiming a local emergency allows for the county to seek state and federal funding that may be applicable, which may include funding from the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Disaster Assistance Act, and the Stafford Act.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
State of California, United States federal government, City of Eureka, City of Rio Dell.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to ratify the Resolution, however, that would preclude the county from seeking outside assistance emergency programs to provide funding for the earthquake response efforts.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution proclaiming the existence of a Local Emergency due to the 6.4M earthquake on December 20, 2022, as executed by Sheriff William F. Honsal on December 20, 2022.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A