City says damage from storms totaled more than $449,000

Workers clear vegetation from a creek on Main Avenue and Hale Avenue. Photo by Marty Cheek

By  Staff Report

Shane Palsgrove

During the three weeks of atmospheric river deluge, South Valley first responders made sure residents remained safe from flooding and other storm-related incidents.

Morgan Hill Police Chief Shane Palsgrove described what local police and firefighters did to protect the community as it experienced the California’s heaviest rainstorms since 1862:

“On New Year’s Eve, the city began mitigation efforts for the biggest rainstorm of 2022 by staging barricades at known hot-spots, clearing storm drains, preparing our sandbag stations, and putting out social media tips for flood preparedness. The Corporation Yard’s Departmental Emergency Operations Center began working around the clock to ensure our city was ready.

“A week later, we activated our emergency operations center to ensure our teammates in the field had the resources they needed as flooding continued. As the event grew in duration, the need for a local emergency proclamation was identified to assist with federal and state reimbursements and was ratified by the city council Jan. 11. Our public services and engineering team responded to trees blocking roadways, landslides, flooded areas, and a water main break.

“Collaboration efforts were in effect with Valley Water as West Little Llagas Creek reached capacity and known hot-spots and other areas began flooding and stressing our storm drains. The demand for sandbags was maximized throughout the county. Officers were busy with road closures, clearing drains, removing debris from roadways and assisting Morgan Hill Fire with a residential fire, a trailer fire, evacuations, and several flooded vehicle rescues after drivers drove around road closure barricades.

“Public services, police, fire, and emergency operations teammates worked many hours of overtime into weekends, evenings, nights, and holidays. Our Community Emergency Response Team was activated to assist with community outreach in affected neighborhoods.

“An initial damage estimate of $449,500 was submitted to the county. This includes debris removal, emergency protective measures, public utilities, and city staff time. There were five private properties damaged as well as damage to our storm drain.”