TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Raymond Riordan
AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: May 26, 2023
Approved Date
6/8/23
SUBJECT: TERMINATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES’ JANUARY 3, 2023, PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY DUE TO STORMS
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution terminating the Director of Emergency Services’ January 3, 2023 Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency for the public safety threat of high water flows and flooding due to the extreme storms in January.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Pursuant to the San José Municipal Code and the California Government Code, the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency due to the threat of high water flows, potential for drowning, flooding beyond the banks of the waterways in the City, and high winds that could topple trees. This proclamation was ratified by the City Council on January 10, 2023 and extended on April 28, 2023. The Government Code also requires the termination of a Local Emergency when the threat no longer exists.
BACKGROUND
From the beginning of the water year, October 1, 2022 through December 25, 2022, the San Francisco Bay Area received five to seven inches of rain. This mainly came from weak fronts moving across the region. On December 26, 2022, there was a change to the pattern as it ushered in the first in a series of storms that tapped into the high moisture content of the sub-tropics. This weather phenomena is known as an “Atmospheric River” or “Pineapple Express”. The storm series engulfed the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay regions, and much of the State, from late December through mid-January 2023.
The City initially activated the Emergency Operations Center on Friday, December 30, 2022, in response to the National Weather Service’s High Wind Watch and Flood Watch in anticipation of flooding as a result of multiple significant back to back Atmospheric Rivers. The Emergency COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/20/23
FILE:
ITEM:
23-900
2.11 HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 26, 2023
Subject: Termination of the Director of Emergency Services’ January 3, 2023, Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Storms
Operations Center remained in a response posture until January 19, 2023. The incoming storms produced heavy rains, causing inflows into waterways throughout the City, including but not limited to Ross, Los Gatos, Fisher, Coyote, and Penitencia Creeks and the Guadalupe River, that resulted in public safety threats from high stream flows and potential flooding.
Approximately twelve storm systems brought a wide variety of hazardous weather events to the San Francisco Bay Area, which required high level alert for our responders and re-activation of an Incident Management Team in the Emergency Operations Center on March 9, 2023. These systems varied in dynamic set-up from narrow cold-frontal rain bands and atmospheric rivers, and included a low-pressure center that underwent "bomb cyclogenesis". These storms produced hazardous weather throughout the months of February, March, and April which included large surf over 30 feet, wind gusts up to 100 miles per hour, widespread flooding which included river flooding, gusty thunderstorm outflow winds, small hail, two waterspouts, and several reported shallow landslides, just to name a few. Unfortunately, there was loss of life due to these storms.
The resulting stream flow from the surrounding mountains into the Guadalupe River, Coyote Creek, and their tributaries created dangerous conditions along the waterways in the City. The Public Works Department and Department of Transportation deployed staff into the storms to monitor the waterways and identify blockages or areas of concern. The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department established shelters with Housing support during demobilizations. Along with good coordination with the National Weather Service, Santa Clara Valley Water District, County of Santa Clara, the American Red Cross, and HomeFirst Services of Santa Clara County, the City’s response to the storms continued to be epic.
Starting on January 3, 2023, the City sheltered as many as 283 residents who needed respite from the storm and received food, and comfort. The American Red Cross assisted staff from the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department at the Camden and Seven Trees Community Centers. The City subsequently demobilized the shelters beginning on January 22, 2023. As the storms continued, on March 9, 2023 the City again established a shelter at Seven Trees Community Center to support the 53 residents evacuated along the streams. The shelter was demobilized on March 17, 2023. Upon demobilizing each shelter, a total of 94 shelterees were evaluated by the Housing Department and services continued at designated Evacuee Transition Facilities. By May 19, 2023, the Evacuee Transition Facilities were demobilized, the following is a summary of where the 94 individuals transitioned:
• 5 permanent housing;
• 1 Rapid Rehousing housing;
• 73 interim housing;
• 15 returned to homelessness.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 26, 2023
Subject: Termination of the Director of Emergency Services’ January 3, 2023, Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Storms
ANALYSIS
The threat of flooding continued along the waterways thru April 2023. Those who sought shelter and later transitioned into the Evacuee Transition Facilities received the wrap around services - onsite case managers who provide support and access to resources for social services, health care, employment opportunities and other needs. - The majority transitioned into an interim housing site.
The authority to Proclaim the Existence of a Local Emergency in San José is vested in the City Council, or in an emergent situation, the Director of Emergency Services (City Manager), or designated alternate. In this case the City Manager signed a Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency on January 3, 2023. Pursuant to Title 8, Chapter 8.08 Part 2 Section 8.08.210 of the San José Municipal Code and the California Government Code, Section 8630, a Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency was ratified by the City Council on January 10, as prescribed by the Municipal Code, within seven days. The City Council extended the emergency on April 28, 2023 as the threat remained. The Government Code and Municipal Code also require the City Council to terminate the emergency when the threat no longer exists.
As the weather continues to improve, the threat no longer exists.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
The Governor of the State of California and the President of the United States declared an emergency in Santa Clara County which includes the City of San José. The Office of Emergency Management along with the Finance Department will take action to file reimbursement claims with the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
COORDINATION
The report was prepared in coordination with the City Attorney’s Office and Housing.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the June 20, 2023 City Council meeting.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this section.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 26, 2023
Subject: Termination of the Director of Emergency Services’ January 3, 2023, Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Storms
CEQA
Not a Project, Public Project File No. PP17-008, General procedure and policy making resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
Raymond Riordan
Director, City Manager’s Office of
Emergency Management
For questions, please contact Raymond Riordan, Director of the City Manager’s Office of Emergency Management, at [email protected] or (408) 794-7055.