In the wake of San Diego's catastrophic deluge, Mayor Todd Gloria is rallying for federal aid, having connected Wednesday with Vice President Kamala Harris, who has offered a supportive hand in the city's recovery efforts.
San Diego's southeastern neighborhoods were hit hard, families in Southcrest, Mountain View, Encanto, Mount Hope, and Shelltown reeling from the damage the "1,000-year storm" left in its wake; as Mayor Gloria pointed out, lives were upended in less than half an hour, "As San Diego begins to recover from an extraordinarily rare and powerful storm, it was comforting to receive Vice President Harris' sincere offer to be helpful in our time of need," Gloria explained, in comments obtained by the official San Diego government website.
To secure the much-needed federal disaster relief, Gloria underlined the necessity to demonstrate that predetermined thresholds have been met, a task he is undertaking in collaboration with the state and county governments. Mayor Gloria is urging affected residents to complete a key survey indicating financial losses, the findings of which will be crucial in drawing the federal support necessary to offset the calamitous financial blow that has befallen the region.
Moreover, the federal Small Business Administration could provide a lifeline through low-interest loans provided thresholds for their Physical Disaster Declaration Loan Program are met, with inspectors set to scrutinize the wreckage to aid this determination San Diegans with battered homes or businesses can potentially lean on this assistance. Addressing infrastructure, the city is tallying costs associated with storm damage which, if rising to $15.1 million locally and $72.7 million statewide, could trigger federal dollars for repair reimbursements.
Gloria has already declared a state of emergency in San Diego, echoed by the county and eventually the state when Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a similar proclamation for both San Diego and Ventura counties. As cleanup efforts commence, with storm channels and levees under close inspection and city teams scooping up the remnants of the savage storm, residents are being prompted to meticulously document damage and liaise with insurers for property and vehicular claims.
San Diegans seeking more information on the storm recovery process and the supportive measures in place can find updates on the official City of San Diego website.
