Town manager says $200,000 matching grant could expand evacuation study after holiday flooding

Darcy Smith, Portola Valley’s town manager, told the Emergency Preparedness Committee on Jan. 8 that recent holiday storms produced localized flooding at Windmill School and a fallen tree that left telecom lines hanging on West Bridal, prompting volunteers and staff to respond.

“We have $200,000,” Smith said, describing a late-year offer from a local foundation to match funding for work to build on the October 2022 Farron Piers evacuation study. She said Stanford has submitted building permits and that the town is planning to engage a consultant to use the funds to expand the earlier evacuation analysis.

Smith credited CERT volunteers and the fire department for rapid on‑site help and warned that some storm damage—such as clogged neighborhood storm drains and downed utility lines on private property—can produce large uninsured losses. She said she has reached out to Farron Piers to develop a scope of work and would like a consultant under contract as soon as feasible, though timing depends on permit and payment schedules.

The announcement prompted discussion about priorities for 2026, including evacuation planning, emergency operations planning/center work and communications. Committee members agreed to form a small subcommittee to refine presentation slides before the committee presents its priorities to Town Council on Feb. 11.

The committee did not take any formal funding action at the meeting; Smith said the match and consultant scoping will be driven by the schedule for permits and Stanford’s payment timeline.