Marin Proclaims Local Emergency

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County on Tuesday declared a local state of emergency amid an ongoing series of powerful storms that have pummeled the region in recent weeks.

The county’s Board of Supervisors unanimously backed the proclamation in its first 2023 meeting.

The proclamation covers storm impacts for the entire county.

It will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom and the State of California Office of Emergency Services for consideration. It follows the Governor’s Jan. 4 statewide proclamation.

The proclamation was introduced by County Administrator Matthew Hymel as an urgency item on the agenda.

The declaration allows the county to exercise all necessary authority to protect lives and property and arrange for the restoration of resources with a minimum of interruption or delay.

It also allows the county to apply for state and possibly federal aid to reimburse the county for infrastructure repairs and other related expenses, and paves the way for potential low-interest loans and other aid for private infrastructure damage.

Counties statewide are reeling from a series of what the National Weather Service calls atmospheric rivers.

Since Dec. 26 heavy rains combined with saturated ground and high tides to cause widespread damage.

The West Marin community of Stinson Beach has been among the region’s hardest hit, as 45 residences have sustained water damage from the ocean’s storm surge and another 22 suffered structural damage.

Two county-maintained roads and eight non-county-maintained roads were damaged but remain passable as of Tuesday.

Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber told the Board that local first responders are focused on preserving public safety and assisting the most vulnerable residents, including those with health issues who rely on electricity to survive.

“The storm door is not closed,” Weber told the Supervisors on Tuesday. “I’m getting briefings as I’m sitting here before you.”

Rosemarie Gaglione, Director of County Public Works, said the Roads Division had responded to more than 800 emergency calls for service, managed 25 road closures, cleared 13 debris slides, and removed more than 100 trees from roadways.

State law requires that a governing body that has declared a local state of emergency shall review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days.

Marin residents are urged to stay away from the coastal areas to keep rural roads accessible for emergency responders. People should also avoid surging creeks, streams, flooded roadways, and fallen power lines while eliminating nonessential travel during periods of severe weather. Travelers are urged to monitor 511.org for updated information.

Floodwater needs to recede before the full extent of Marin’s damage can be accurately determined. Meanwhile, the Internal Revenue Service is giving all California storm victims – including those in Marin – an extension until May 15 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and to make tax payments.

The extension covers 2022 individual income tax returns that are due April 18 and 2022 business returns due March 15 or April 18.

For more information, visit Marin's Emergency Portal.