Sausalito declares local emergency ahead of storm season

The Sausalito City Council has approved a proclamation of local emergency to more nimbly respond to El Niño flooding and storm risks. The move on Tuesday ratified a declaration last week by Brandon Phipps, the interim city manager. On Sept. 21, the governor declared a statewide emergency ahead of what could be a historic El Niño season, Phipps wrote in a staff report. On Oct. 16, as director of emergency services, I proclaimed a local emergency for this city. State law requires the county to ratify it within seven days. San Rafael declared a similar local emergency on Oct. 5, and Larkspur was expected to do so on Wednesday. The Sausalito proclamation enables it to more closely coordinate with county operations during increasingly high king tides expected next week and on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It activates our emergency organization and plans, Phipps said. It allows me to issue temporary order to protect life and property such as closing flooded streets. It lets us redepl