Stanislaus County leaders poised to approve emergency declaration due to flood threat
Stanislaus County leaders are expected to ratify an emergency proclamation Tuesday as authorities take action to deal with additional storms and the threat of flooding.
It’s the county’s second emergency declaration since January as atmospheric rivers have caused wind and flood damage across the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
Sheriff Jeff Dirkse, acting as the county’s emergency services director, used limited authority to declare a local emergency Wednesday and activated an emergency operations center at the highest level.
County supervisors have to ratify the sheriff’s proclamation Tuesday or it will expire. A staff report for the agenda item does not have an estimate on the fiscal impact of the March storm events. But costs are anticipated including damage to property, bridges and other public infrastructure, employee overtime pay and increased operational costs.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week to support relief efforts and, if needed, mobilize the National Guard, the governor’s office of emergency services, the state Department of Transportation and California Highway Patrol in response to flooding and extreme weather.
The county Office of Emergency Services has evacuation orders and warnings on various stretches of the Tuolumne River in Modesto and the San Joaquin River near Patterson, Newman and Grayson.
This story was originally published March 13, 2023 at 8:57 AM.
