Orange County Friday activated its emergency operations center after two south county cities declared emergencies related to damage from last weekend’s storm, but county leaders are split on whether to declare their own emergency.
Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley urged her board to declare an emergency to free up services from the state and federal governments.
But Chairman Doug Chaffee said such a move was premature and could pose some drawbacks.
Chaffee said the head of emergency operations for the county “usually initiates it if its necessary,” but she has not seen a need to do so at this point.
“There are some financial drawbacks if we do it at this time,” Chaffee said.
An emergency declaration might slow down loan money from the federal housing authority and could affect insurance rates for homeowners, Chaffee said.
“We’ve looked at it and there’s no financial benefit to the county and no pending emergency right now,” Chaffee said. “At the right time if there’s a benefit we’ll take care of it.”
Foley disputed that it would affect insurance rates.
“None of this is insured anyway so what’s his point,” Foley said.
Foley said she was in contact with Rep. Mike Levin, D-Dana Point, who agrees a federal emergency declaration is needed to free up federal resources.
“We have some equipment problems because the sea water is affecting the equipment being used to build a sea wall,” Foley said.
“We kind of need special equipment at this point that is used in sea water and I feel like if we could get an emergency declaration approved and maybe get the state to declare one as well maybe we can get some federal resources even if it’s just equipment.”
City Councils in Dana Point and Laguna Beach have approved local emergencies. San Clemente and Newport Beach officials are asking the county to declare an emergency, Foley said.
“We have to be proactive” even if there’s no rain in the forecast, Foley said. “Twenty more properties may be at risk… And what does it hurt? There’s n reason to delay.”
Rail service through San Clemente will remain closed through the weekend as repairs continue, Orange County Transportation Authority officials said Friday.