By Michael G. Stogner
This was two months before San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy said He didn’t know anything about it. Thank goodness Scott Johnson was wrong or was he?
November 10, 2021
To: Kim An Le, Finance Section Chief
From: Scott Johnson Logistics Section Chief Risk Manager, County of San Mateo
RE: Inspection of Damaged PPE at event center
I have examined the store of PPE that was stored at the Event Center. My understanding of the timeline based on interviews with the staff is as follows.
The PPE was stored in an indoor facility. The staff was directed to move the PPE to a fenced area outside to accommodate an event that was to occur at the event center. The PPE was stored without incident using tarps, elevated pallets and plastic wraps. Unfortunately, a rain event called ? River occurred on a few days between October 21st and October 25th with intensity not anticipated. The Bay Area experience up to 10 inches of rain in one day. It was the most rain recorded in the month of October in 173 years of record keeping. At one point it rained for 34 straight hours. Winds averaged 25 mph during the event but gusted as high as 60+ mph. While the PPE had been protected, the protection was easily overcome by wind and rain. There was no time or place to move the substantial amount of PPE to a different location.
I have attached photos and an inventory, but in my professional opinion, it is a total loss. I question the efficacy of PPE meant to keep people safe from Covid-19 given the damage. It is simply not worth the risk to human life.
Should you have any questions, please let me know. I can be reached at extension 4387.
Some follow up questions for Scott Johnson what method did you use to come to the conclusion on NOVEMBER 10, 2021 that all of the PPE that was moved out of San Mateo County Event Center by September 27, 2021 according to Steve Perich of the SMCEC Staff. What are the names of the Staff members that you interviewed per your letter. Where is the Inventory list of all the PPE that you declared a Total Loss?
The obvious question is How did San Mateo County Government Officials go from a “Total Loss” to “We didn’t know anything about it until ABC7 Dan Noyes broke the story on January 13, 2022” To 98% of the PPE is Useable and Undamaged and the Wine Country Marines of Sonoma per President James Brown will be Distributing all of it on January 25, 2022 to whoever he determines is a qualified organization.
San Mateo County News 