San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria spoke by phone with FEMA Region 9 Administration Bob Fenton and discussed the impacts of last Monday’s storm and the recovery efforts underway.
Mayor Gloria underscored the immense pain San Diegans are living through and his commitment to being their voice as they clean up and rebuild.
Administrator Fenton confirmed that the FEMA Region 9 team and California Office of Emergency Services (OES) are currently on the ground, surveying and inspecting the region’s initial damage estimates.
Mayor Gloria and Administrator Fenton discussed the initial damage estimates and the statewide indicators that are reviewed when a state requests a federal disaster declaration. Administrator Fenton provided a thorough breakdown of what lies ahead in verifying the damage estimates, the process, and the timeframe for moving forward.
Mayor Gloria and Administrator Fenton promised to stay in close contact as this process moves forward. Mayor Gloria will continue to advocate for the greatest possible level of resources to be approved as swiftly as possible through Cal OES and FEMA.
City crews are continuing work to clear streets of mud and debris and make necessary infrastructure repairs following last week’s devastating rainstorm. So far, more than 1,443 tons of mud, debris, trash, and bulky items have been removed from the areas impacted by flooding including Southcrest, Shelltown, Mountain View, Encanto, and others.
Teams working with the City’s Environmental Services Department are assisting with the removal and proper disposal of hazardous materials like paint, oil, and batteries. Heavy equipment has been deployed to clear storm debris from culverts along Chollas Creek. The City’s Stormwater crews focused on the channels along 38th and Alpha Streets in Southcrest, Beta and Birch Streets, and between Akins and Imperial Avenues in Encanto. Emergency contractors continue work clearing seven channel locations near National and 33rd Street and Federal and Home avenues.
As rain is forecasted for Thursday, Feb. 1, residents in impacted areas are urged to prepare for more wet weather and make a plan to avoid low-lying areas in the event of another storm.
For residents citywide, sand and empty sandbags will be available at 10 City recreation centers Monday through Friday between 1 and 7 p.m. Residents are encouraged to bring shovels to fill the bags themselves. For residents in communities that were severely impacted by flooding last week, pre-filled sandbags will be delivered to their neighborhoods.