The San Diego City Council on Monday ratified Mayor Todd Gloria's state of emergency declaration following last week's major storm and flooding as Gloria met with a representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Dozens of San Diego residents gave emotional testimony at the council meeting, ranging from anger over the lack of action to prevent flooding — largely in less affluent neighborhoods in southeast San Diego such as Southcrest, Encanto and Mountain View — to requests for help from the city. and county, state, and federal sources.
Many residents spoke of community members wading, swimming and diving in dangerous floodwaters to clear obstructed storm drains. City emergency crews rescued hundreds of people from flooded cars and homes in Southcrest, as well as from fast-moving water in Mission Valley.
The Council approved an emergency resolution 7-0 aimed at facilitating the receipt of disaster relief.
The county encouraged the use of sandbags because of the possibility of another storm heading into the San Diego area. Rain is expected to begin Wednesday night into Friday, with the possibility of heavy rain on Thursday.
County officials advised the public to call ahead and check for sandbag availability. Some stations may have limited viewing. A complete list of sand and sandbag locations can be found at www.alertsandiego.org/en-us/recovery/sandbags.html or www.sandiego.gov/storm-preparedness.
List: Where to Get Free Sandbags in San Diego County
On Monday, Gloria spoke by phone with FEMA Region 9 Director Bob Fenton, where he “emphasized the tremendous pain San Diegans are experiencing and his commitment to being their voice as we clean up and rebuild,” according to a statement from the mayor's office.
A FEMA Region 9 team and California Office of Emergency Services staff in San Diego County are surveying and examining preliminary damage estimates in the area.
“Mayor Gloria and Director Fenton have promised to remain in close contact as this process progresses,” the mayor's office stated. “Mayor Gloria will continue to advocate for the highest possible level of resources to be approved as quickly as possible through Cal OES and FEMA.”
Over the weekend, city stormwater crews cleared culverts along 38th and Alpha streets at Southcrest, Beta and Birch streets and between Akins and Imperial streets in Encanto.
San Diego County and Cal Fire are offering free sandbags to residents and businesses in unincorporated areas for flood protection.
“To date, 3,117 tons of mud, debris, trash and bulk materials have been removed from the Southcrest, Shelltown, Mountain View, Encanto and other areas,” said Battalion Chief Joe Scurry and the Incident Management Team.
“Pre-filled sandbags will be delivered to residents in communities that were severely impacted last week,” Scurry said.
