LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Sheriff Brian Martin, acting as Lake County’s director of Emergency Services, on Wednesday issued a declaration of a local emergency in response to widespread damage caused by the storms and subsequent flooding during the past week.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said there have been reports of homes being flooded as well as landslides, downed utility lines, fallen trees and other serious damage to the county.
Storms from an atmospheric have resulted in a large amount of rainfall over the past week and the last several days in particular, with Clear Lake going into flood stage on Wednesday.
On Wednesday night, Clear Lake was reported to be at 9.39 feet Rumsey, with the level continuing to climb and several more inches of rain forecast to fall across Lake County through the weekend.
Paulich said the purpose of declaring a local emergency is to provide the authorization for officials to promulgate orders and regulations necessary to protect life and property. This is important when ordering special services and supplies relevant to disaster relief efforts.
A local declaration of emergency also describes the circumstances that exist to support the issuance of a State or Presidential declaration of emergency.
The sheriff’s declaration of emergency has been forwarded to the state of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for consideration by the director of Emergency Services.
Paulich said county employees are working diligently to respond to this most recent emergency, and urge the public to be prepared for additional rain events which are forecast to hit Lake County during the next week.
Sheriff declares local emergency due to storms, flooding
- Lake County News reports
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