Mr. Mayor, Madam City Administrator and City Council Members,

PWA staff responded admirably to the major storm this past holiday weekend. Many staff persons postponed their New Year’s celebrations, canceled or cut short vacations, and reported ready to work 12-hour shifts to clear mud, debris, and trees from Oakland’s streets.

Citywide cooperation was phenomenal. PWA received support from CEDA staff in evaluating residences in the path of mudslides; and from the Recreation Department in coordinating use of a row boat from the Sailboat house to access and clear the clogged weir known as the 'Birdcage' on Shepherd Canyon Rd. Internal PWA departments worked together seamlessly to evaluate mudslides, tree failures, and other problems in their efforts to make the city safe for Oakland’s citizens.

A comprehensive report of the holiday weekend’s activities will be issued Wednesday. The following is a summary of the calls received Friday through Sunday:

Friday, December 30, 2005, through Sunday, January 1, 2006

2005 ended with a bang as a major storm roared into Northern California bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms. The National Weather Service issued urban and small stream flood and wind warnings for Alameda County early Saturday morning and periodically throughout the rest of the weekend. Winter storms dropped 3.69 inches of rain on Oakland on Friday through Monday, bringing our cumulative to 13.89 inches for this season which is more than last year to date and 162% from normal. Runoff from the rain caused flooding, along with rock and mudslides throughout Oakland.

Call volume to Fire Dispatch increased rapidly early Saturday morning. Extra crews were called in and dispatched by the Standby supervisor beginning at 1:00 a.m. Increased flooding and mudslides required the opening of the Municipal Service Center at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Demand for sandbags exhausted the supply at the Municipal Service Center; several thousand were distributed. A crew has worked continuously throughout the weekend to replenish our sand bag supply.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Partial Activation:

The Public Works Agency in consultation with the Oakland Fire Department and Community and Economic Development Agency activated the Emergency Operations Center on Dec. 31, 2005 at approximately 2:00 p.m.

The purpose of the activation was to have coordinated communication with OFD, CEDA and OPD and to facilitate communication to Alameda County and the State on storm-related damage.

The City filed a RIMS Report with state OES, which reports damage to public and private property in Oakland. According to OES staff, Oakland was the only City in Alameda County to report to the County on storm-related damage.

Amount of Rainfall ( http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/getAFDversion.php?sid=SFO&pil=CLI&version=0 )

Location of Problem Areas:

• 6200 block of Skyline Blvd – Road was closed at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning and remains closed as of 2:00 p.m., Monday, due to a major mudslide. CEDA staff evaluated proximity of slides to houses and evacuated the residents from three houses.
• 6300 Girvin Drive – Mudslide caused temporary closure of the road Saturday afternoon and evening; public right-of-way was cleared of mud and became passable.
• 106th Avenue Underpass at San Leandro Street - Closed Saturday afternoon and remains closed due to flooding.
• 44 Cortez Court – Large tree was undermined as a result of a mudslide. Tree Section and PWA Engineering staff collaborated on making the tree safe for public right-of-way and private property.
• 2200 block of Arrowhead Dr - Road was closed Sunday due to a major mudslide. As of Monday afternoon, road was closed to through traffic (residents have ingress and egress).
• As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, all trees that had impeded the public right-of-way had been cleared with the exception of Joaquin Miller Road at Skyline, where a large cypress tree went down and blocked traffic. Crews were on site as of 1:30 p.m. to clear the public right-of-way.
• Old Tunnel Road - Mudslide Saturday caused closure of one lane while crews worked to clear road of mud. Road because completely passable Sunday.

Facility - Related Service Requests:

The following is a current list of storm-related incidents affecting our facilities:

• Fire Station 4 roof leak on our roof replacement list/repairs ongoing
• Fire Station 19 roof leak repair complete
• Fire Station 8 roof leak under warranty/repair in progress
• Fire Station 26 roof leak repair ongoing
• Fire Station 24 roof leak material warranty/repairs ongoing
• Verdese Carter roof leak on our roof replacement list/repairs ongoing
• Bldg #4 roof leak repair complete
• Animal Shelter roof leak repair in progress
• Leona Lodge roof leak on our roof replacement list/repairs ongoing
• Fire Station 27 roof leak repair in progress
• Fire Station 6 roof leak repair pending
• Temescal Library roof leak repair ongoing
• Molonga Center roof leak repair ongoing
• Ira Jenkins Rec. parking lot flooding repair ongoing

In closing, our staff remains extremely responsive and continues to work on some of the remaining street closures due to mud slides, and downed trees, and will continue to prepare for our next storm events. I will keep you posted should new developments materialize.

Update 1/4/06: 

Mr. Mayor, Madam City Administrator and City Council Members,

As promised in my report to you yesterday, attached is a detail listing of all the calls for service received during this past weekend's winter storm. Also attached for your reference is a narrative of our storm response, a majority of which was in yesterday's report to you. Our staff continues to work on a handful of outstanding issues through out the Oakland hills and in East Oakland at 105th.

Staffing hours and costs, along with equipment and external contractor costs are being compiled and will be submitted to state OES tomorrow through Ms Renee Domingo of our Fire Department's Office of Emergency Services.