Saturday, August 24, 2013

Gov declares State of Emergency for San Francisco due to RIM fire destruction of electrical infrastructure serving SF

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an emergency proclamation for the City and County of San Francisco due to the effects of the “Rim Fire” in Tuolumne County.

The full text of the emergency proclamation is below:


A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY


WHEREAS on August 22, 2013, I declared a State of Emergency to exist in the County of Tuolumne, due to the wildfires therein; and

WHEREAS the wildfires that started in Tuolumne County have caused damage to electrical infrastructure serving the City and County of San Francisco, and now threaten damage to property, equipment, and resources of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department; and

WHEREAS the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has been forced to shut down transmission lines with the result that the City and County is affected by the wildfires in the County of Tuolumne and is likely to be further affected should the fire cause additional damage to the City and County of San Francisco’s water and electrical assets in Tuolumne County, including the possible temporary interruption of electricity and/or water delivery;

WHEREAS on August 22, 2013, due to the imminent threat to critical infrastructure assets, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission declared an emergency, and the City and County of San Francisco declared a local emergency and requested that I proclaim a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this emergency, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within the state that affects the City and County of San Francisco.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the City and County of San Francisco.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
All agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment, and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the State Emergency Plan.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 23rd day of August, 2013.

___________________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California

ATTEST:

____________________________________
DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State