Sacramento State will host the first city meeting regarding the risk of flooding throughout the central state since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency, said Kirkland Stout, occupational safety specialist at Sac State.

The state of emergency can open the door for federal and state funding for flood work.

“There are a lot of questions that people need to be answered ?” this is a big story,” Stout said.

Expected to be in attendance in the city meeting with Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency is Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, campus President Alexander Gonzalez, police and fire chiefs and students.

Stout said students should be concerned and come with questions because Sac State lies on a “critical bend” and sits within flooding barriers, which could contribute to a major flood on campus.

“No matter where people live, if there’s a flood anywhere, we will all be affected,” Stout said.

Although the meeting will be mostly technical, police and fire officials will also present information regarding the procedures to be taken in case a flood occurs, Stout said.

No faculty members have a role in the meeting or flood planning, Stout said. But, Stout said he helped organize the meeting by approaching the mayor.

The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday in the University Union Ballroom.

Gamaliel Ortiz can be reached at [email protected]