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Mill Valley staff say pump failures, blocked inlets and an intense downpour drove Dec. 27 flood; residents say late alerts cost cars
Summary
City staff presented an after-action report citing an unusually intense storm (about 3.22 inches over three hours), two pumps out of service at the Sycamore flood station and inlet blockages; residents said the city failed to notify them in time, costing multiple vehicles and prompting commitments to improve Alert Marin use and neighborhood outreach.
City officials told the Mill Valley City Council on Jan. 27 that a rare, concentrated storm and equipment and coordination failures combined to produce the Dec. 27 Sycamore‑area flooding that damaged vehicles and homes.
City Manager Cusmano summarized the after‑action report: the rainfall exceeded forecasts, registering "over 3.22 inches of rain" in roughly a three‑hour window, and the Sycamore flood station experienced pump failures — two of its three pumps tripped and remained offline for several hours before being restored. Staff said blocked storm inlets and upstream debris (including an earlier week‑long water‑main event that left sediment in the system) worsened flows. "Regardless of…
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