The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ratified a county emergency declaration due to $3.1 million in damage to county roads and infrastructure from the Dec. 13 Atmospheric River Winter Storm.

Voting unanimously during a special Board meeting, the Board declared a local emergency due to widespread flooding, numerous landslides, a fire-related debris flow along Foreman Creek, road washouts and road collapses, including the loss of part of Lodge Road in Boulder Creek.

The vote allows the County to request disaster assistance funding under the California Disaster Assistance Act to assist with public infrastructure repairs due to the storm event that are beyond the County’s ability to fund. The County continues assessing damage from the event and may add additional costs as they become known.

In addition to the loss of a portion of Lodge Road, additional road damage was sustained along Miller Cutoff, Granite Creek Road, Valencia Road, Casserly Road, Highland Way and Two Bar Road.

Furthermore, a debris flow occurred downslope of the CZU Fire Burn Scar along Foreman Creek, where several homes were evacuated during the storm. To view a video of the debris flow, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LFZJqrqidw.