SLO County storm caused $40 million in damage; supervisors OK state of emergency
San Luis Obispo County roads and infrastructure suffered at least $40 million in damage as the result of a recent rain storm, according to the county’s emergency services manager.
An atmospheric river-fueled storm slammed into SLO County on March 9 and 10, dumping almost a foot of rain in one spot and causing severe flooding that led to road closures and evacuations.
In response, San Luis Obispo County Administrative Officer Wade Horton declared a state of emergency on March 10.
On Thursday, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to ratify the county’s declaration of an emergency. Supervisor Bruce Gibson was absent from the meeting.
Ratifying the declaration of an emergency allows the county to request up to 75% reimbursement for flood responses from the state through the California Disaster Assistance Act, SLO County Emergency Services Manager Scott Jalbert said at Thursday’s board meeting.
The storm caused at least $20 million of damage to county roads and another $20 million to other county infrastructure, according to Jalbert.
Additionally, SLO County residents have reported at least $1 million of damage to their private property, he said.
“The precipitation and the winds in this case caused flooding and erosion, which caused damage to infrastructure and private property,” Jalbert said.
Between March 9 and 15, Templeton saw 4.46 inches of rain, Rocky Butte received 17.64 inches, Salinas Dam in Santa Margarita got 5.46 inches, and Lake Lopez saw 7.89 inches, according to Jalbert.
“Although we welcome these rains (and) it helps with our drought situation,” Jalbert said. “Due to our ground saturation conditions and our rivers being very high for this time of year ... this caused a lot of flooding and other types of damage that we have not seen in many years.”
Storm caused flooding, road damage
Flooding drove some SLO County residents from their homes, while damage to roads isolated others.
Communities in Cambria and Oceano near the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee had to be evacuated, Jalbert said, and the American Red Cross opened a temporary evacuation center at the San Luis Obispo Veterans Memorial Hall.
Mudslides isolated residents near See Canyon, Santa Rita Road and Marsh Road, Jalbert said.
In Cambria, Santa Rosa Creek spilled over and flooded parts of the city, prompting evacuations.
Morro Bay declared a state of emergency on March 10, after Little Morro Creek overflowed and flooded Main Street.
On March 10, floodwaters washed away a section of Chimney Rock Road south of Lake Nacimiento, leaving at least 100 residents stranded in the Running Deer Ranch, CAL-Shasta and Tri-Counties neighborhoods.
Now, those communities must travel to the grocery store, work and school by boat via the Lake Nacimiento Marina.
The county is working with Caltrans “to try to figure out a way to gain access to that road again,” Jalbert said.
This could include fixing the road, installing a temporary bridge in place of the road or finding another route for folks to drive out of the area, Jalbert said.
The risk for flooding in SLO County isn’t over, he said.
As of Thursday morning, Lopez Lake was 90% full, Jalbert said.
More rain could cause the lake to spill, he said, which would introduce more water into the Arroyo Grande Levee area.
According to the National Weather Service, there’s a 50% chance of rain in San Luis Obispo County on Sunday, followed by a 70% chance of rain on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Though the next storm scheduled to hit SLO County isn’t expected to be as severe as recent ones, “We’re anticipating issues again,” Jalbert said.
