For flood victims in Stanislaus, other counties, it’s a long wait for FEMA assistance
Northern San Joaquin Valley residents with flood-damaged and, in some cases, uninhabitable homes are enduring a painful wait for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
With memories of the January storms fading, residents in Stanislaus County don’t know yet if they’re eligible for FEMA assistance for individuals and families.
The county is approved for public agency assistance but is still waiting for a FEMA decision for individuals and households. “We are not being given a reason for the holdup,” Sonya Severo, a spokeswoman for the county Office of Emergency Services, said by email.
Severo did not provide the total number of property owners who completed a storm damage survey. Property owners, businesses, renters and homeowners were invited to report damage.
San Joaquin is among the 13 counties in California included in the major disaster declaration making homeowners eligible for assistance for flood damages. But household applications for FEMA assistance have run into obstacles, according to Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, whose new district covers San Joaquin and parts of Stanislaus and Contra Costa counties.
Harder sent a letter to FEMA administrators Wednesday on behalf of people who were flooded out of homes. “Numerous San Joaquin families have stated how challenging it is to rebuild their lives while they wait weeks for assistance,” Harder wrote.
A Harder press release cited a Tracy resident whose property flooded five times in two weeks. The congressman’s letter to FEMA also said a constituent applied for the federal assistance but the application was referred to the Small Business Administration.
The SBA denied the request and referred the person back to FEMA. “In a time of crisis, our application processes should be streamlined in order to avoid delays,” Harder’s letter said.
The congressman said many victims of flooding in the Acampo area, north of Lodi, were struggling to get the support they need from FEMA, which has operated a disaster recovery center in Stockton.
Brady Penn, a spokesman for FEMA, said the agency is administering federal disaster assistance in accordance with the Stafford Act of 1988 and will continue to do so.
“Every disaster survivor’s situation is unique, and evaluated on a case by case basis,” Penn said via email. “We look forward to continued engagement as we work with local, county and state partners throughout the recovery process.”
Linda Powell, her husband and a son have not been able to live in their home in western Stanislaus County since flooding Jan. 9. The family shares the experience of some people from Merced to northern San Joaquin who can’t live in their flood-damaged homes weeks after the severe storms.
Powell, 73, said her family completed a county survey reporting damage to its Diablo Grande home more than a month ago. FEMA officials visited the home Feb. 1.
Powell estimated costs up to $100,000 for cleanup expenses, new carpet and vinyl flooring, other repairs and bills for staying in hotels or rentals, including an Airbnb in an older apartment building in Turlock.
“It is just awful,” Powell said. “We have all lost weight. Every day, it is so hard emotionally, and it’s expensive.”
Penn said public entities in Stanislaus County are eligible for FEMA assistance for debris removal, roads, bridges, public buildings, utilities and parks.
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 12:38 PM.
