At their meeting on Monday, January 27, the City Council received an informational update regarding findings from the recently published After Action report on the December 27, 2024 flooding incident. The report highlights challenges faced during the early morning deluge in Tamalpais and Sycamore Park neighborhoods.
Several residents expressed frustration over the lack of notification and emergency response, saying they felt abandoned during the flood. Tom Redmond, a resident who lost multiple vehicles and suffered home damage, stated that even a short warning could have prevented significant losses. He criticized the City’s lack of timely alerts, saying, “If we had notice at 1:00 a.m., we would have moved. We would not have parked in the same spot. But we had no notice.”
City Manager Todd Cusimano acknowledged the City’s shortcomings in its response to the December 27 flooding, citing failures in communication, coordination, and preparedness. He admitted that key response teams were not effectively communicating, advance notice was not given to residents, and crucial infrastructure, such as the Sycamore Pump Station, was not functioning at full capacity. “We were caught off guard by the three inches of rain in three hours, a really significant water main break, and our pump station not having the right amperage in a storm like this,” Cusimano said. “That is really unprecedented, but it caught us off guard… and we fell short on engagement and communication.” He emphasized that while staff worked hard during the event, the City must improve its emergency response and communication strategies moving forward.
Mayor Stephen Burke reflected on the flooding incident, emphasizing the need to learn from the event and improve the City’s preparedness. Burke stressed that the real lesson was not just the event itself but the response and the need to activate the neighborhood more effectively in the future. He underscored the importance of timely communication, stating, “Flood season is something that we have to really anticipate and prepare for better, whether it’s in the offseason or in the season itself.” Burke also highlighted the evolving nature of storms, pointing out that Mill Valley has recently experienced more intense and prolonged weather events than expected, requiring the City to rethink its emergency strategies.
City Manager Cusimano outlined steps to improve emergency response and flood preparedness, including better coordination with utilities, improved alert systems, and infrastructure upgrades funded by Measure L. Officials said the Sycamore Pump Station’s electrical issue has been fixed, and future flood alerts will be sent through Alert Marin. Additionally, long-term plans include $3.3 million in flood control projects and continued collaboration with Marin County’s Flood Zone 3 program.
He also announced that he is planning neighborhood walk through with neighbors and staff in the next 2-3 weeks and will schedule a larger neighborhood meeting toward the end of February. Details on the meeting dates and times will be announced shortly.