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Help for Those Impacted by Jan 22, 2024 Storm and Flooding

 

Weekly Temporary Lodging Summary

Update on Emergency Food Programs

2024 Winter Storm Emergency Financial Report

How Flood Recovery Programs Work

 

FEMA Assistance

Residents and businesses impacted by severe storms and flooding from Jan. 21 – 23, 2024, may qualify for federal assistance. FEMA Individual and Households Program Assistance provides financial help and services. Low interest loans are also available for households and business through the Small Business Administration.

To apply and learn more about FEMA assistance:

  • Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Use the FEMA App by downloading the app via text messaging. On an Android device, text ANDROID to 43362; on an Apple device, text APPLE to 43362.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 1 (800) 621-3362

FEMA Lodging and Rental Assistance

FEMA rental assistance is a temporary grant to survivors to pay for somewhere to live while they repair or rebuild their home. 

You can find more information on what a FEMA Rental Assistance grant may cover and what to do after you apply in English and Spanish.

FEMA housing support is separate from the County of San Diego Temporary Lodging program.  You can find more information here.

How to Write an Appeal

English | Spanish | Korean | Tagalog | Chamorro | Vietnamese

 

SBA Assistance

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans for residents and businesses impacted by the severe storm and flooding.
  • To apply and learn more about SBA disaster loans:
    • Apply online at SBA.gov/disaster, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
    • Facts sheets in English and Spanish
    • Visit the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center.
      • Spring Valley County Library, 836 Kempton St., Spring Valley, CA 91977
      • Mountain View Community Center, 641 South Boundary St., San Diego, CA 92113            

 

Rebuilding

For repairs that require building permits, unincorporated area residents are required to submit a permit application. Fees are waived for flooding victims. For information call 619-380-3055 or email PDSBuildingPermitCounter@sdcounty.ca.gov. If you live in a city, contact your city’s planning department.  

To find a reputable contractor, visit the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Contractors State License Board webpage. You can file a complaint with the Contractors State Licensing Board by calling 800-321-2752 or online. 

 

Food

For emergency food resources, reach out to one of the following organizations:

Food Assistance (CalFresh) or Temporary Cash Assistance (CalWORKs or General Relief): go to benefitscal.com, call the Access Customer Service Center at 866-262-9881 or visit a local Family Resource Center.

Disaster CalFresh

  • This program provides a one-time payment to eligible residents to buy food for themselves and their families. 

  • Residents Affected by the flood can apply between March 7-22, 2024. Residents already receiving CalFresh may also be eligible for the Disaster CalFresh benefit.

     

Volunteer Assistance

Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster can help connect San Diegans with volunteer groups working in communities.

Volunteer assistance is available for:

  • Muck out and cleanup of flooded homes

  • Help with mold suppression

  • Connection to food and resources 

  • Connection to support services, health services, and spiritual and mental health care needs

  • Help replacing some home items like appliances, furniture, mattresses, etc.

  • Case management to help those working through the recovery process

 

Clothing

Salvation Army: Call 619-231-6000  if you need clothing, socks, underwear or hygiene products.

 

Health

If you do not have a doctor or medical provider and need care: Call 2-1-1 to get connected with a provider nearest you.  

If you need help finding mental health resources or crisis support: Call 9-8-8. For emergencies, please dial 9-1-1.

Mental Health Resources:

 

Utilities  

San Diego Gas & Electric: Customers who were impacted by the storm can visit the SDG&E Storm Recovery page or call their Customer Care Center at 1-800-411-7343.

 

Debris Removal

The County Department of Public Works is picking up flood-damaged debris and items from homes in the unincorporated communities weather permitting. Call  858-495-5700.

Do not put debris near the curb during rainy weather where it can wash away and cause a hazard.

For additional storm recovery resources, call 2-1-1.

 

Other resources 

Flood cleanup and safety

Sand and sandbag locations

Home/Business Property Tax Relief: Visit the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk's office to see if you qualify for Flood Property Tax Relief or email arcchelp@sdcounty.ca.gov. Recorder/County Clerk staff are also available to answer questions and help with requests for replacement copies of vital records and property deeds. 

For people experiencing homelessness, resources may be available. Visit the Housing Services page to learn more about housing services in cities and in the unincorporated areas of the County.

Pet owners: If you live in the unincorporated area, you can get help with supplies or obtain copies of documents by contacting the Department of Animal Services at DASInfo@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-767-2675 or sddac.com.

Pet owners in other jurisdictions can visit the San Diego Humane Society’s support page or call 619-299-7012 for assistance.

Replacement Documents

Donation Information

The best way to help people affected by the storm is to donate money to a trusted local organization. Donations of clothing and household items can be difficult to distribute and store. County Emergency Services and the San Diego Foundation set up the San Diego Flood Response Fund to collect donations to fund local non-profits helping those impacted by the storms.

 

Consumer Protection Resources

Tenant Protection Measures for Those Impacted by the Jan. 22, 2024 Flooding

Price Gouging and Fraud Protection

Disaster-related Property Tax Relief

Contractors State Licensing Board

 

Additional Resources

211 San Diego or call 2-1-1 or 800-227-0997 for information and referrals to services. 

City Virtual Local Assistance Center

City of San Diego Storm Response and Recovery

National City Storm Preparedness, Response and Recovery Information

City of Coronado Storm Preparedness and Planning Information

San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation Flood Related Business Resources

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Assistance and Flood Resources

 

Red Guide to Recovery

Red Guide Logo

The Red Guide to Recovery: A Resource Handbook for Disaster Survivors is a comprehensive, easy-to-read post incident recovery tool that walks disaster survivors step-by-step through the recovery process.  Disaster survivors are often overwhelmed by stress and uncertainty after a loss caused by a natural or manmade disaster, and the handbook addresses such stress and uncertainty by providing the information and tools survivors need to cope with a disaster.   Learn more

 

How It Works: The County’s Emergency Temporary Lodging Program  

The County of San Diego created the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program to serve as a bridge for those affected by the Jan. 21-23 flooding.  The program provides temporary lodging to support participants displaced from their homes due to the storm, who could no longer be supported by other organizations and hadn’t yet received financial aid from organizations like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  Households were brought into the program based on multiple eligibility criteria, including being unable to live in the home they had before the storm.  The program has supported nearly 900 households in 65 hotels across the region. 

Households are informed at regular intervals of their status in the program and what they need to do to continue to stay in the program. That includes applying for FEMA rental assistance if eligible, and once they have that aid, moving into a long-term residence. If their home is deemed safe by FEMA, they are also encouraged to move back home, and leverage community resources as needed. 

Community resources include mental health, volunteer assistance, self-sufficiency services, and low interest loans. 

 

Using Uber Eats in the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program

The County partnered with Uber Eats to provide food for residents in the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program. Eligible participants will be provided with a weekly digital voucher via email and/or text to purchase food through Uber Eats. 

Vouchers can be used to purchase food from restaurants, fast food locations and grocery stores. Participants can skip delivery fees by picking up their order. 

The digital voucher’s amount is determined by several factors:  

  • The number of people in the household. 

  • If their hotel is providing breakfast to program participants.  

  • If the participants are receiving food from other organizations that are partnering with the County. 

  • Each meal credit is $8.50. 

Example 1: A family of three is staying at a hotel without breakfast. 

3 (meals) x $8.50 (per meal) x 3 (people) x 7 (days) = $535.50 voucher 

Example 2: A family of three is staying at a hotel with breakfast and a partnering community-based organization is providing one meal a day.

1 (meal) x $8.50 (per meal) x 3 (people) x 7 (days) = $178.50 voucher 

Uber Eats vouchers are valid for seven days from the date they are issued and cannot be used to buy alcohol or tobacco. 

The County is exploring additional options to provide food to program participants. 

This food services program is only open to eligible residents in the County’s Emergency Temporary Lodging Program. CalFresh is available to all Californians based on eligibility. To apply for CalFresh, visit benefitscal.com, call 866-262-9881 or visit a Family Resource Center.

 

Volunteer Assistance Is Available

Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) can help connect San Diegans with volunteer groups working in their communities. 

Volunteer assistance is available for:

  • Muck out and cleanup of flooded homes. 

  • Help with mold suppression.

  • Connection to food and resources. 

  • Connection to support services, health services, and spiritual and mental health care needs.

  • Help replacing some home items like appliances, furniture, mattresses, etc. 

To connect with a volunteer, call 619-673-8780 or fill out an online form. Your information will remain confidential. Volunteer organizations do not check immigration status.

Agreeing to talk to nonprofits VOAD about assistance creates no obligations. All support is free.  

 

Mental Health Resources Available

Help is available for those affected by the January storms who are struggling with their mental health. 

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 for immediate assistance.

Call 988 or 888-724-7240 to connect to the San Diego Access and Crisis Line (ACL) if you need assistance finding and navigating mental health services. The ACL is a free and confidential option to help connect you to resources and referrals and can provide crisis intervention and support over the phone as well as dispatch crisis response services if appropriate. 

Counseling is available to people in the County’s Emergency Temporary Lodging Program. The County contracted with Open Heart Leaders to offer individual and group therapy for program participants. Call 858-256-6736 or visit Open Heart Leaders for more information.

San Diego County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) can help connect you to resources to support your mental wellness. To learn more about all available BHS services and resources, click here.

 

Debris Removal and Cleanup Efforts 

County crews prepared the unincorporated community in advance of the Jan. 22 rainstorm. The teams worked around the clock to inspect and clean County-maintained drainage channels and culverts.  

Once the rains began, crews made sure all County roads were open and safe, and drainage outlets were functioning.  

Public Works had 240,000 bags and 1,875 tons of sand delivered to 11 distribution sites across the unincorporated county. Residents used these supplies to help protect their property.  

Field crews removed hundreds of dump trucks full of debris (325 tons) curbside.  

In March, crews placed collection bins at the Spring Valley Library for community use.   

Environmental Services teams safely disposed household hazardous waste material, such as paint, oil and batteries. They collected nearly 25,000 lbs. of household hazardous waste from 171 homes. 

Land Use and Environment Group crews also:  

  • Provided health and safety flood information. 

  • Offered a free vehicle abatement program.  

  • Conducted damage assessments. 

  • Relocated campers.  

  • Supported and tracked impacted agricultural operations. 

  • Monitored email, phone, and the Tell Us Now app to respond to requests for assistance.