With the clock rapidly counting to the April 19 FEMA aid application deadline, Mayor Todd Gloria is pushing for those hit by the January tempest to step up and claim their share. Over 2,600 households have gotten a piece of the $20 million pie for needs like makeshift homes, house fixes, and other key outlays tied to the disaster, as reported by SanDiego.gov.
Mayor Gloria, Governor Gavin Newsom, and VP Kamala Harris have been at the forefront, vouching for San Diego's disaster declaration, easing the way for residents to get their hands on federal bucks; they've been playing the FEMA field. Per their collaboration, it seems that over 2,600 households have already seen some relief. Time's running out, and Mayor Gloria's message is loud and clear, "Every San Diegan affected by the January storm should apply for FEMA assistance before the April 19 deadline," he underscored the critical role of these funds in the long haul back to normalcy.
San Diego's pocketbook isn't staying closed either, as the Economic Development Department has dished out more than $252,000 to 64 small fry businesses and four nonprofits through its grants, with the feds via the U.S. Small Business Administration okaying $1.7 million across 65 loans to keep the local economy from drowning. The City's quick reaction, marked by door-knocking in the flood zones and pairing up with volunteer squads, has cleared 575 sites of soggy walls, junk, and damaged furnishings.
Permit fees, you ask? Scrapped, according to the City's Development Services Department – a move made to lessen the load for those forced to mend or level their storm-slammed properties, with demolition and building fees tossed aside, the City is also throwing a Debris Assistance Program into the mix; the City, by way of its Environmental Services Department, has provided around 1,604 replacement trash and recycling containers with 47 on the way and has dispatched 66 roll-off bins to tackle the trash heap left by the storm.
In need of a guiding hand with your FEMA plea? The Mountain View Community Center at 641 S. Boundary St. is hosting the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, as stated by the City of San Diego. They've got web access and gadgets. If you need 'em, ring 800-621-3362, hit up disasterassistance.gov, or get the FEMA app on your phone. SanDiego.gov/Recovery is where you'll find all you need to know for those patched into the digital realm.
