On February 9, 2017, the City Manager found that a major winter storm event began on February 7, 2017 that included an extended period of heavy rain ranging from the valley floor to extremely high elevations around the region coupled with warm atmospheric temperatures and a heavy and ripened snowpack and water saturated ground that would result in both urban and Truckee River flooding in the City of Sparks.  City emergency teams opened the EOC on February 9, 2017, and it was determined that a major event was imminent.  City Manager Stephen W. Driscoll declared a state of emergency with Mayor Martini's concurrence, and the State DEM was notified.