EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA

PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS on March 1, 2023, I proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in 13 counties as a result of winter storms that struck California beginning in late February, and which have continued to significantly impact those 13 identified counties, as well as several additional counties across California; and

WHEREAS these storms, including an atmospheric river system, are forecasted to continue through mid-March, and, in addition to previously issued freeze warnings and frost advisories due to rapidly declining temperatures, the National Weather Service has issued flood watch warnings in recent days; and

WHEREAS heavy rain, snow, and gusty winds caused by these storms continue throughout the State, especially in the mountains and foothill regions, resulting in significant travel impacts and residents being snowed in or stranded; and

WHEREAS these storms continue to bring significant precipitation, avalanche and flood concerns, and triggered evacuation warnings; and

WHEREAS these storms continue to damage and force the closure of federal and state highways and roads, and have also damaged and continue to threaten critical infrastructure, homes, and buildings; and

WHEREAS these storms, including the forecasted atmospheric river system, will compound the complexities of recovery in the affected counties that are still responding and continue to respond to impacts of these storms; and

WHEREAS due to the sustained force and longevity of persistent heavy rain and snow, there are multiple cumulative and compounding effects which have already strained local and state resources, and the impacts of these storms will be exacerbated by the upcoming atmospheric river system; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to these storms; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8558(b), I find that the conditions caused by these storms, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of any single local government and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to appropriately respond; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8625, I find that local authority is inadequate to cope with the magnitude of the damage caused by these storms; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Proclamation would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of these storms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, 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, Government Code section 8625, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist in Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. All operative provisions contained in my March 1, 2023, State of Emergency Proclamation are hereby incorporated and applicable, as appropriate, to Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties as a result of the storms identified in this and the previous Proclamation.
2. Any fairgrounds the Office of Emergency Services determines suitable to assist individuals impacted by these storms in the counties identified in this and the March 1, 2023, State of Emergency Proclamation, shall be made available to the Office of Emergency Services pursuant to the Emergency Services Act, Government Code section 8589. The Office of Emergency Services shall notify the fairgrounds of the intended use and may immediately utilize the fairgrounds without the fairground board of directors' approval.

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.

This Proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of March 2023.

GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California

ATTEST:

SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
Secretary of State