Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency in SLO County due to winter storms
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in San Luis Obispo and 12 other counties after snow and rain from late February winter storms caused widespread road closures and power outages.
The governor’s declaration came on Wednesday, days after the system dumped snow on low-elevation peaks in San Luis Obispo County and several inches of rain fell throughout the region.
The state of emergency proclamation covers San Luis Obispo, Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare counties.
The governor’s proclamation means that San Luis Obispo County can received assistance from the state’s Office of Emergency Services to recover from any damage caused by the recent storms. The California National Guard may also be mobilized to support disaster response and relief efforts, according to the governor’s proclamation.
The late February storms brought several inches of rain to San Luis Obispo County and snow down below 1,500 feet on multiple days.
An evacuation warning was issued on Feb. 24 for Oceano residents south of the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee while heavy rain fell on the area. Residents were directed to prepare for the possibility of flooding and evacuation due to the storm.
Some roadways across the county experienced minor flooding, and the National Weather Service had issued a flood advisory for the region through 4 p.m. on Feb. 24.
Also during the late February storm, traffic on Highway 101 repeatedly backed up through SLO County due largely to the closure of Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and Kern counties due to snow.
It’s likely that most of the emergency services will be directed toward counties more severely impacted by the late February storms.
Cal OES is working with San Bernardino County to open two shelters for residents impacted by the heavy snowfall there. It’s also working to coordinate food deliveries and escorts with power companies and service providers to access vulnerable populations who have been cut off by the heavy snow.
Several major roadways in California remain closed as of Thursday as Caltrans, Cal Fire and the California Highway Patrol work to plow through several feet of snow and icy conditions in a number of areas.
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 11:23 AM.
