February 6, 2013 Update
The City Council extended the City's Emergency Proclamation at its meeting on February 5, 2013 (see link to Proclamation). The City has not yet received a response from the Governor's Office regarding the City's request for assistance. The Mayor and Vice Mayor held a Community Meeting on January 28, 2013 at City Hall to discuss future emergency preparedness. The City Council is committed to continued planning and emergency preparedness for potential future events.
Engineering efforts are ongoing to evaluate flood damage to the San Francisquito Creek bank along Woodland Avenue and potential repair solutions for the area, as well as for levees along the Creek north of East Bayshore Avenue, adjacent to the Gardens neighborhood.
January 2013 Update
On December 23rd, 2012, at approximately 8:00 p.m., and continuing through December 24th, the San Francisquito Creek spilled over the levee between Verbena Drive and Daphne Way in the City's Gardens neighborhood, and also overtopped the creek banks along Woodland Avenue, north and south of University Avenue. Damage was reported to a number of homes, as well as to streets and other public facilities. The extreme flows in the creek, the third highest recorded since such data has been gathered, also caused significant damage to the levee and creek banks.
In response to the flooding, many agencies responded with mutual aid assistance, including Menlo Park Fire District, San Mateo County and the Office of Emergency Services, the California Conservation Corps, the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the California Department of Water Resources, and the California Department of Transportation, along with City staff. The City continues to work with all of these agencies to mitigate the damages resulting from the storm event.
On January 2, 2013, a Proclamation of a Local Emergency was declared, and subsequently ratified by the East Palo Alto City Council on January 3, 2013. Several areas along the creek, extending from the West Bayshore Road area, upstream to the City limits, needed immediate flood control work, including removal of downed trees and debris, to ensure that the creek and levee system can withstand any future rains this season. To protect the Gardens neighborhood, sandbags were installed to increase the strength and elevation of the levee adjacent to Verbena Drive and Daphne Way. Several downed trees have been removed to improve creek flow and safety. The City will continue to monitor conditions along the creek during storm events, and to evaluate and implement repairs. Safety of our residents remains the City's highest priority.
Informational Update: 650-853-3113
This is the City of East Palo Alto's information line. If you have an immediate life-threatening emergency, hang up and dial 911.
If you have a question or would like to report a concern, contact the Community Development Department at 853-3189, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
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Local Emergency Declarations
San Francisquito Creek Monitor
County Emergency Declaration, (January 3, 2013)
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