Orange County Board Chairman Doug Chaffee on Thursday signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Maria, which battered the coastline in several south Orange County cities. This declaration signals a critical step toward recovery for affected communities and infrastructure.
Chairman Chaffee’s decision marks a shift from his position last week, when he had been hesitant to declare an emergency despite urging from the board’s Vice Chair Katrina Foley. He stated that new information regarding the financial assessment of the damage played a pivotal role in his change of mind.
Speaking to City News Service, Chairman Chaffee clarified the threshold that prompted his declaration. He explained that a comprehensive accounting of the damages specifically to government property revealed costs that rose "above the $15 million (Federal Emergency Management Agency) threshold." This financial benchmark is crucial for unlocking federal assistance, and its breach was, according to Chaffee, the decisive factor in his decision. For taxpayers and local budgets, meeting this threshold is often the key to alleviating the burden of recovery from severe natural disasters.
The storm’s impact was significant across the affected areas. Waves from Hurricane Maria fiercely lashed the shore in multiple cities, causing substantial damage. This included direct impacts to numerous homes located along the coast, as well as significant harm to public beaches and protective barriers designed to safeguard the coastline. Furthermore, the storm’s effects extended to critical infrastructure, notably affecting rail traffic operations along the affected coastal corridor, which can have ripple effects on local commerce and daily commutes.
Beyond the immediate devastation, the emergency declaration also takes into account forward-looking concerns. It specifically reflects worries that the onset of winter weather conditions could potentially worsen the existing damage, leading to further complications and increased costs for repair and restoration efforts. This proactive approach aims to prepare for ongoing challenges to public safety and infrastructure integrity.
The county-level emergency declaration comes after several individual cities in the hard-hit region had already taken similar measures. Dana Point was the first to declare a local emergency on September 9, followed by Laguna Beach on September 10, and San Clemente on September 15. These local actions underscored the severity of the damage at the municipal level even before the county’s broader proclamation.
To ensure the formal validity of Chairman Chaffee’s proclamation, the Orange County Board is currently working to schedule a special meeting next week. The purpose of this meeting will be to ratify the emergency declaration. Once ratified, the declaration will then be sent to the governor’s office. From there, it will be the governor’s responsibility to pass the declaration on to the federal government, a necessary bureaucratic step to successfully free up essential financial aid to assist with the substantial damage across the county. This federal assistance is vital for homeowners, businesses, and local governments to rebuild and recover.
