By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
In the wake of what experts say is a “thousand-year flood”, Southeastern San Diego has boots on the ground as neighbors, volunteers, and organizations rally together to assess what needs to be done to rebuild amid the current state of emergency.
After a devastating atmospheric river swept through the region last week, hundreds of residents and counting, have reported significant loss—ranging from homes, businesses, vehicles, pets, medication, and more.
With more rain on the way starting today, Jan. 31st, through the weekend, volunteers and crisis management personnel are working overtime to ensure that affected residents are secure–either through hotel vouchers or shelter housing– and that future flood victims will be limited.
According to the San Diego National Weather Service “A wetter, colder, and windier pattern will begin by Thursday, Feb. 1, with periods of heavy rain associated with an atmospheric river: Confidence is increasing that rain totals will be 1-2 inches along and west of the mountains.”
Over this past week, the Jackie Robinson YMCA branch has served as the community-led flood recovery and preparation headquarters. In collaboration with a multitude of nonprofits and organizations, services have ranged from free use of showers, counseling, food, clothing and supply drop off, sandbagging, insurance support, and an overall communication hub for residents.
On Monday night, an informal town hall meeting was held at Jackie Robinson drawing over a hundred residents, volunteers, leaders, and organization representatives. In an unwavering display of camaraderie, the space gave way for the group to collaborate, share testimony, and overall strategize on how the community can best move forward through the traumas of last week’s storm, and the fears of what may come with the next round.
“We’re all one big family today. And we’re Southeast strong, but we are also San Diego strong. We are setting the example for this community,” said Former Jackie Robinson YMCA director, Michael Brunker. Brunker now serves as the President of the San Diego Rotary Club.
One major area of concern raised at the townhall was the issue of mold and asbestos triggered by water damage in homes. Emphasis was placed on homes where occupants remain despite the risks, in fear of being completely displaced, in addition to the volunteers working inside of these homes.
Furthermore, another priority currently being sought out is options for displaced families. As of print time, V&V has been informed that about 232 households in the area have been evacuated due to damages; that number will most likely grow in the days and weeks to come. In fact, a grassroot organization in close partnership with the Jackie Robinson YMCA reported Tuesday that 283 people are in need of housing.
Currently, the City is working on providing hotel vouchers for people who have lost their homes, but no promises or formal process for this has been set in stone. In the meantime, volunteer organizations have been proactive in getting people in the community to donate for hotel vouchers. Black Men and Women United are among the groups offering housing donations and hotel stays for affected families.
An area of significance many local and county leaders are focused on is getting a quantifiable number of damages on these household displacements to help request state and federal aid, and are urging residents to fill out a damage report survey online. According to officials, regional damages have to meet a certain threshold before FEMA assistance comes into play— making the role of citizen self reporting essential.
The webpage to complete the survey can be found HERE
In addition, with more rain on the way, reporting areas such as creeks, channels, and storm drains that need to be unclogged or cleaned is vital in ensuring minimal damage through this following week.
Clogged storm drains and poorly managed creeks such as Chollas Creek in Southeastern were at the center of a deeply impassioned discussion that boiled over during Monday’s City Council meeting.
During public comment on the item to ratify a local emergency declared by Mayor Todd Gloria, many angry residents spoke on the fact that for a long time the city was aware of these problem areas and their susceptibility to flooding.
In fact, earlier this month before the flood, an official city infrastructure report highlighted the potential consequences of neglected maintenance of San Diego’s storm drain system.
“Age, combined with deferred maintenance due to historic underfunding of the storm drain system, poses a risk of flooding and catastrophic failure. This is evident from the number of emergency drainage repairs that have occurred over the last three rainy seasons.”
According to Taylor Womack, who lives on South 42nd St., he has been putting in reports to clear the channel behind his home since 2005.
“Because you ignored our requests to clear this area and make it safe, now people are flooded, losing homes and losing their livelihoods.”
“You’re literally failing us,” said Womack.
While the argument and evidence is clear that the severity of damages could have been preventable by the City, notable mentions were made within the Southeast community hub to avoid pointing fingers at the time being, and put energy and efforts into moving forward and picking up the pieces.
Especially in regards to elected officials, one woman at the Jackie Robinson meeting: “stop pointing fingers, and do your job.”
Southeastern San Diego is already a disproportionately income burdened area in comparison to other regions in the county, and the financial implications of water damage and possession loss will be immense.
Read below for resources put together by the community to support flood victims.
- For information on how you can volunteer or receive help reach out to: [email protected]
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For residents impacted by flooding and storm damage: The Red Cross has opened an overnight emergency shelter at Lincoln High School (4777 Imperial Ave, San Diego, CA 92113) and pets are allowed. The shelter is available for food, water, and other resources as needed. You are not required to stay in the shelter if you only need support for food/water.
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If you need help finding housing, please contact Kristina Buckner at [email protected] or (619) 807-8946. Leave a message and she will return the call as soon as possible.
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If you need help finding housing/transitional housing, please call Veronica Hosey at (909) 272-7187.
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Housing, Transitional and Recovery Resources and Spanish speakers: 909-272-7187, www.onereal.com/multifamilymoguls
- STORM RECOVERY LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER, Monday – Wednesday, 10am-7pm @ Spring Valley Library (see flyer):A Local Assistance Center will be open this week at the Spring Valley Branch of the San Diego County Library, 836 Kempton St., Spring Valley, CA 91977. The center will provide resources for anyone impacted by the storm throughout San Diego County. Open hours will be Monday, Jan. 29, to Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information will be available on debris and household waste removal, erosion control, rebuilding permits and replacement of vital records, and more. County and City teams will be conducting preliminary damage assessments over the next three days to determine potential state and federal disaster assistance.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:
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Red Cross number: 858-309-1200
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Non-Emergency number: 619-531-2000
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Life Threatening Emergencies: → DIAL 9-1-1
