A section of Highway 132 collapsed in Mariposa County from the flooding
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Credit: Caltrans
April 20, 2018 – On Thursday, April 19, 2018 California Governor Jerry Brown declared a State of Emergency in eight counties following the March storms.
The eight counties: Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.
PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS beginning on March 21, 2018, an atmospheric river event swept across California, bringing substantial precipitation and flooding, severely impacting Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties; and
WHEREAS the atmospheric river event caused dangerous flash flooding, erosion, and substantial mud and debris flows; and
WHEREAS the atmospheric river event caused damage to roads and highways in Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties; and
WHEREAS the atmospheric river event impacted the Hetch Hetchy Water and Power Moccasin Reservoir, which is owned by San Francisco County but located in Tuolumne County, causing power outages, damage to roads, downed trees and power lines, flooding, erosion, and interruptions to San Francisco county’s water supply; and
WHEREAS the circumstances of the atmospheric river event’s damage, by reason of its magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the storm damage in Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Amador, Fresno, Kern, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The California Department of Transportation shall formally request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, Title 23, United States Code section 125, in order to obtain federal assistance for road and highway repairs or reconstruction in the affected counties.
2. The Office of Emergency Services shall provide local government assistance to Mariposa, Merced, and Tuolumne counties, as appropriate, under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, Government Code section 8680 et seq. and Code of Regulations, Title 19, section 2900 et seq.
3. All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities related to this state of emergency consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 19th day of April 2018.
_____________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
_____________________________
ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State
Source: Office of the Governor
