HomeMy WebLinkAbout011320_ca01 Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Willie Bence, Emergency Management Director
DATE: January 13th, 2020
SUBJECT: Emergency Declaration Request for Upper Hoh Road
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Board of County Commissioners is asked to pass a Resolution as a declaration of emergency
for damage to County Roads.
As recently as October 25, 2019, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners declared
a state of emergency after a washout of 66 feet was recorded near milepost 8 of Upper Hoh Road
as a result of a significant storm event, reducing traffic to a single lane. The declaration allowed
Jefferson County Public Works to make emergency repairs, restoring the road to two lanes of
traffic and mitigating against future washouts on that stretch.
However, on the evening of January 7th, 2020, another significant storm
event in the area caused additional damage to Upper Hoh Road near
milepost 8. Topping out at approximately 28,000 cubic feet per second.
The river continued to erode the bank immediately upstream from the ,
previous damage, and again reduced the road to a single lane of traffic. ,
Public Works reports a section of river bank 20 feet wide and 90 feet 'r
long was lost in 24 hours, leaving a 20-foot vertical drop at the edge of
the pavement.
Previous repairs and bank protection, including the area just
downstream, are holding and providing proper protection. However, there exists another 250 feet
Upper Hoh Rd-Milepost 8 or so of threatened roadway
.44, d e : `HT1 7 ,a`;, ' upstream, before the road and river
.. begin to diverge. That 250 feet
- • ALL r , `'"�, rs,�. ' remains at risk of future flood
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damage, barring future mitigation
' activities.
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Consent Agenda
ANALYSIS:
As with previous emergency declarations, the current declaration will enable Jefferson County
Public Works to work quickly and ensure this critical lifeline on the West End of Jefferson
County remains viable and safe for West End residents and continues to provide access to the
Park for visitors to the area.
RECOMMENDATION:
The BOCC declare a State of Emergency regarding the damage to Upper Hoh Road, milepost 8,
and related storm damages.
REVIEWED BY:
1117?01P
'clip Mor - - '• . • • . ator Date
STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
In the Matter of } Resolution No. - 20
Declaration of Emergency }
Damage to County Roads }
WHEREAS, a significant weather event on approximately January 7 and 8, 2020, created flooding
including the Hoh River at approximately 28,000 cubic feet per second, and caused erosion, which
damaged road infrastructure, specifically the Upper Hoh Road near milepost 8, destabilizing approximately
90 feet of the southern-most lane and endangering the public with a 20-foot vertical drop at the road's edge,
closing one lane so that both directions of traffic at Upper Hoh Road MP 8 are now restricted to sharing a
single lane, and
WHEREAS, ongoing erosion continues to undermine the damaged stretch of the Upper Hoh Road,
which eventually would render the road completely impassable at said location; and
WHEREAS, additional weather events are likely to threaten additional portions of the Upper Hoh
Road near milepost 8, upstream from previous repairs and upstream from the most recently damaged
stretch; and
WHEREAS, immediate preventative action and repair will be necessary to prevent further damage
and to restore essential services; and
WHEREAS, persons and property may be threatened or damaged and access to property may be
impaired unless emergency efforts are taken by the Jefferson County Department of Public Works to
reduce the threat to life and property.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners
hereby declare that a state of emergency exists.
1. The County Department of Public Works is authorized to enter into contracts and incur
obligations necessary to combat this emergency to protect the health and safety of persons and property in
light of the exigencies of an emergency situation without regard to time consuming procedures and
formalities prescribed by law, with the exception of mandatory constitutional requirements.
ADOPTED this day of , 2020.
SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Greg Brotherton, Chair
ATTEST:
David Sullivan, Member
Carolyn Gallaway,
Deputy Clerk of the Board Kate Dean, Member