Orange County Board Chairman Doug Chaffee Thursday signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency stemming from damage by Hurricane Maria, which battered the coast in south Orange County cities.
Chaffee had been reluctant to declare the emergency last week when prodded by the board’s Vice Chair Katrina Foley, but new information about the expense of the damage changed his mind, he said.
“An accounting of the damages to government property came in above the $15 million (Federal Emergency Management Agency) threshold. That’s what changed it,” Chaffee told City News Service.
Waves from the storm lashed the shore in cities, damaging multiple homes, beaches, barriers and affecting rail traffic along the coast.
The emergency declaration also reflects concerns that winter weather could worsen conditions.
The county’s emergency declaration comes after local emergencies were declared Sept. 9 in Dana Point, Sept. 10 in Laguna Beach, and Sept. 15 in San Clemente. The county is working on scheduling a special meeting next week to ratify the proclamation.
The county’s emergency declaration will be sent on to the governor’s office, which will pass it on to the federal government to free up financial aid for the damage.