(Imperial Irrigation District declares a local emergency)....The declaration is for Imperial and Riverside Counties.

The IID Board of Directors unanimously approved the declaration at their meeting this week. The declaration was in response to the catastrophic monsoon storms in late August. The board was told over 302 power poles were damaged, including critical transmission and distribution infrastructure. 8,459 ratepayers were left without power. There was also significant damage to canal banks and lined concrete canals. The worst hit was the E-Line by Holtville. 311 additional poles on that line went down. The damage estimate from the storms is estimated between $9 million and $12 million. Financial assistance through the California Disaster Assistance Act from the state office of emergency services to cover repair and replacement costs.