It’s Official: Rain Is O.C. Emergency

Lt. Gov. Gray Davis on Friday declared a state of emergency in storm-damaged Orange County as officials braced for another wet weekend that could bring at least 3 inches of more rain.

In signing the declaration, Davis said that this winter’s series of El Nino storms has caused significant damage across Southern California.

“I am declaring a state of emergency for the county of Orange to assist not only with the damage that has occurred, but to allow local officials to take whatever measures necessary to prepare for future storms,” Davis said.

County officials reacted favorably to the declaration. “That is good news,” said John W. Sibley, director of the county’s Public Facilities and Resources Department. “The action now makes us available for reimbursement for storm-related damages.”

Since Feb. 6, the county has been inundated with a series of violent storms that caused extensive damage to flood control channels and embankments and undermined roads, including Santiago Canyon Road, a major link for the county’s canyon communities. Santiago Canyon Road has been shut since Tuesday.

The next storm is due to move in tonight and it could bring as much as half an inch to an inch of rain, said John Sherwin, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times.

“You get a break on Sunday,” Sherwin said. “But then another storm drops down into Southern California on Monday from the North Pacific.”

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Forecasters are still unsure as to how much rain Monday’s storm may bring. A forecast service used by the county estimated as much as 4 inches of rain and possibly 5 inches through Monday. But Sherwin said the storm doesn’t appear to be that strong.

Nonetheless, county road and flood control crews have been lined up to go into action as soon as a significant rainfall begins dropping in the county, Sibley said.

“If this storm stays together, we could get 4 to 5 inches of rain,” Sibley said. “This one is packing a lot of water.”

Davis signed the declaration as acting governor because Gov. Pete Wilson is out of state. The action makes the county eligible for a 75% reimbursement for emergency storm repairs from the state. Already, damage estimates have reached more than $5 million, county officials said.

“This is for a bunch of projects, not any one particular project,” Sibley said, “although it does include Santiago Canyon Road, which is costing over $200,000 in repair work now.”

Heavy rains ruptured a storm drain pipe nearly 50 feet beneath the road, causing a large sinkhole earlier this week.

The road, which is the primary artery connecting Silverado Canyon and Portola Hills with the rest of the county, is expected to be closed for repairs through Sunday.

“The road may not open now until Sunday or Monday. Hopefully, we’ll be finished with it late Sunday in time for Monday morning’s commute,” Sibley said.

The storm that pushed through Orange County on Thursday night did not cause a significant amount of damage.

Pacific Coast Highway was temporarily closed in Huntington Beach between Warner Avenue and Golden West Street, and county crews worked on a minor hill slippage beneath a bluff-top restaurant in Dana Point.

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Record Rain

Orange County seasonal rainfall through 4 p.m. Friday reached nearly 21 inches, breaking the previous record to date set in 1992-93 and last season’s total by almost 6inches. And more is on the way. Santa Ana totals, in inches:

This season to date: 20.71

Last season to date: 14.87

Normal to date: 8.51

Previous record (1992-93) 19.93

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Forecast

Today: Increasing clouds with rain mostly holding off until after sunset

Sunday: Rain lingers into the morning with a partly cloudy afternoon

Monday: Rain, continuing into the evening; clearing skies Tuesday

Source: WeatherData Inc.