REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 27, 2020
FROM
LEONARD X. HERNANDEZ, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Termination of Local Emergency for the July 4-5, 2019 Earthquake Swarm
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Terminate the Emergency Proclamation, originally proclaimed by the Director of Emergency Services on July 6, 2019 and ratified by the Board of Supervisors on July 9, 2019, resulting from the July 4 and 5, 2019 Earthquake Swarm, followed by serious aftershocks, affecting Trona and surrounding areas of San Bernardino County including the communities of Westend, South Trona, Argus, and Trona Village, as the emergency conditions no longer exist.
(Presenter: Daniel Munoz, Emergency Services Manager, 356-3998)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this action will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as there is no cost to terminate this local emergency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On July 6, 2019, the Chief Executive Officer, while serving as the Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency for the July 4 and 5, 2019 Earthquake Swarm that resulted in damage to critical infrastructure in the Trona area of Searles Valley. This action, which was ratified by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on July 9, 2019 (Item No. 60) in accordance with Government Code section 8630(c), was in response to the earthquakes causing damage to the roads, including Highway 178, and the local water system. The communities of Westend, South Trona, Argus, and Trona Village were advised to use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. In addition, there were damages to the electrical infrastructure and gas leaks. The damages resulted in the need for emergency protective measures in addition to emergency repairs and detours.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630(c), the Emergency Proclamation was continued by the Board at least once every 60 days since its ratification. The Board’s last such action occurred on September 15, 2020 (Item No. 28).
The County’s Office of Emergency Services has determined that emergency conditions no longer exist and therefore continuation of the Emergency Proclamation pertaining to the July 4-5, 2019 Earthquake Swarm is no longer needed. As a result, it is recommended that the Board terminate the existence of this local emergency in in accordance with Government Code section 8630(c).
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Miles Kowalski, Deputy County Counsel, 387-
5475) on October 8, 2020; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on October 9, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on October 12, 2020.