February 3, 2003 was the fifth anniversary of the terrible flood on
San Francisquito Creek that caused so much damage to 1,700 homes in Palo
Alto and East Palo Alto. Every time we experience a heavy rain many of us
have another "anxiety"' attack. We are fearful of another flood.
We came very near to another catastrophe on December 16 of 2002. The
level of water in the creek approached flood conditions. If it had rained
for another few hours, we would have had a repeat of the 1998 disaster.
Our City Council has helped set up the JPA to provide a permanent solution
to the flooding on San Francisquito Creek. The latest news is that the Federal
Government is unlikely to fund the long-term, $100 million, study and construction
project at this time. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has offered a grant
of $7 million with a 35% match required from local sources. It could
be used for more study or for local improvements.
The JPA has just completed a $2.7 million, locally funded, repair of the
levee system in the lower part of the creek. But even with the extra $7 million
from the Army Corps of Engineers, this is not enough to protect all of us.
We need a "temporary solution" now, this winter, and in the future until a
permanent solution is in place.
Our Palo Alto City government has told us that it is up to us, individually,
to protect our own family and property. They say we should put sandbags around
our own homes -- but not everyone will be able to do this. Lack of time
after we are warned of the approaching water, physical limitations of our
older neighbors, ignorance of what to do, etc., will mean that some of us
will be flooded again. This is just "not good enough" for our community.
We need our elected representatives to show some leadership here and provide
us all with flood protection now! We expect and receive Police protection
and Fire protection. We want Flood protection as well.
I have suggested that it would be possible to put sandbags on both sides
of the creek whenever there is danger of overflowing. The objective would
be to keep the excess water inside the creek channel and to prevent it from
flowing into our residential streets. The Chaucer Street Bridge is the place
to start. It was the major problem in '98.
Some have said that this would just move the flooding upstream or downstream
or to Menlo Park or to East Palo Alto. But a cooperative effort by all
three cities would protect all the residents who are in danger of flooding.
At the extreme, a sandbag levy could be temporarily placed on
to the Bay.
The use of Sandbags to contain "creek overflows" in emergency situations
has been used for many years throughout the United States and in other parts
of the World. It is not a "permanent" solution. It is a "low cost", "low tech"
proven method for temporary containment of excess water. It could work here
as well if our City Council would just authorize it.
The Duveneck/St. Francis and the Crescent Park Neighborhood Associations
are co-sponsoring a Community Meeting on the Flood Problem to be held on January
15 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Duveneck Elementary School - Multipurpose Room,
705 Alester, Palo Alto. This will be our opportunity to hear the latest information
on what is being done to protect us.
In addition, we will have the opportunity to ask questions and express our
concerns to Cynthia D'Agosta, Executive Director, San Francisquito Creek
JPA, City of Palo Alto Fire Chief Ruben Grijalva and Gary Nagaoka Field Operations
Unit Manager Santa Clara Valley Water District. I expect that several
City of Palo Alto Council Members also will be in the audience at this Community
Meeting. Please attend this important event yourself.
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