LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Friday, Sheriff Brian Martin, acting as Lake County’s director of emergency services, issued a declaration of a local emergency in response to widespread damage caused by the storms and subsequent flooding this week.

The sheriff's office said there have been reports of homes being flooded as well as falling trees which have damaged homes, vehicles and utility lines.

Two roads in Lake County, Elk Mountain Road and Socrates Mine Road, have been washed out, rendering them impassable, the sheriff's office said.

The purpose of declaring a local emergency is to provide the authorization for officials to promulgate orders and regulations necessary to protect life and property. This is important when ordering special services and supplies relevant to disaster relief efforts. 

A local declaration of emergency also describes the circumstances that exist to support the issuance of a State or Presidential declaration of emergency. 

As of now, complete damage assessments are in progress, the sheriff's office said.

Response costs and damage estimates to governmental infrastructure is estimated to be in excess of $600,000. The sheriff's office said damages to private property may very well exceed this amount. 

So far, officials in the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport have reported no serious damage.

The Sheriff’s Declaration of Emergency has been forwarded to the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services for consideration by the Director of Emergency Services. 

The Lake County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a special meeting to be held beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, for the purposes of a workshop on a draft cannabis ordinance.

At that meeting, the Board of Supervisors also will consider ratifying Sheriff Martin's storm emergency declaration.

The county of Lake reported that its employees are working diligently to respond to this most recent emergency, and the public is urged to be prepared for additional rain events which are forecast to hit Lake County next week.