Of San Mateo County's 23 levees, three are not certified to withstand a 100-year flood, while 13 dams have a high or significant risk of failing and would endanger lives and property if they did, according to a San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report released Monday, July 9.

The report, called "Still No Emergency Action Plans for Levee Failures in San Mateo County," alleges five years of inaction by county agencies and organizations whose mission is to prepare for major emergencies. Individual communities have made progress, but it hasn't been coordinated with the larger community.

"The neglect of the Emergency Services Council, the Office of Emergency Services, the county and cities to adhere to their public safety commitments made in 2007 is unacceptable," the report says. (The Emergency Services Council represents the county's 20 cities and towns.)

The county cannot address the 2007 commitments because resources are unavailable, the Office of Emergency Services says in the report.

Click here to see the grand jury report.

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