The Marin County Office of Emergency Services estimates damages from the Dec. 10 to 11 storm to be $13.3 million.
The estimate is the first step in a multi-tiered process for requesting state and federal aid to recoup storm-related damage costs. It will be sent to Gov. Jerry Brown’s office, which last week declared Marin one of several counties in a state of emergency.
The governor’s office has already provided funds to help Caltrans pay for road damages resulting from flooding and mudslides, including on a large section of Highway 1 near Muir Beach that will be closed until March.
The Department of Public Works cited four major repairs needed for county roads damaged in the storm. These include $750,000 to fortify an eroded section of Lucas Valley Road at Lambert Bridge, $200,000 to clean up a mudslide that spilled over Tennessee Valley Road, $750,000 to repair slip-outs at Frank’s Valley Road (which is now being used as the detour route away from the closed stretch of Highway 1 near Muir Beach) and $400,000 to remove downed trees and debris on Bolinas-Fairfax Road.
“There was a lot of damage in the county, and we’re in the recovery phase now,” said Chris Riley, the emergency services manager for the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
Drafting a damage estimate does not guarantee the county will receive state aid. But, said Brent Ainsworth, a county spokesman, “We are at least now allowed to ask if we can bill the state to reimburse us for how much it will cost to repair our roads.”
Because this storm did not create a “major disaster”—with damages of at least $50 million—it is unlikely the county will receive any federal support.
“The chances of getting [these grants] are pretty low,” Mr. Riley said. “But we’re applying for it anyway and hoping for the best.”
Individual homes and businesses will only be eligible for funds if the federal government declares a major disaster. The county estimates that 34 homes, 11 businesses and two outbuildings were damaged in the storm. The County Assessor’s Office has mailed over 20 claims reports to homeowners, including some in Stinson Beach, who may be facing the $10,000 cost threshold for county tax relief.
“I personally don’t know what the scope of the damage is,” said County Clerk Richard Benson, who noted that tax relief could roll in at as little as $1.