Kings, Tulare Latino officials grateful for Newsom visit to flooded Tulare Lake

Gov. Gavin Newsom, in his first visit to witness the resurrection of Tulare Lake that has flooded fields and left farmworkers and officials worried about future flooding as the record snow in the Sierras melts, said, the state won’t neglect the region.

Newsom said California is one of the few, if not the only, states that provides philanthropic support to farmworkers that do not have documentation or are unable to access federal programs.

Newsom visited Corcoran and Allensworth on Tuesday, which have been directly impacted “by not only the flooding that exists today, but the flooding we’re anticipating over the course of the next number of months.”

County supervisors Richard Valle (KIngs) and Eddie Valero (Tulare) accompanied Newsom and other state officials..

Newsom listed:

▪ FEMA support for mixed status families.

▪ The state’s rapid response fund through the Department of Social Services in partnership with philanthropy.

▪ Disaster Cal fresh, which people can access regardless immigration status as well as other supports such as counseling and legal services.

Newsom said it is important to communicate the availability of those resources to the people who need them.

The state has several websites, including the Department of Social Services (cdss.ca.gov). Outreach workers with Listos California knock on people’s doors and work with community-based organizations to provide support.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website is disasterassistance.gov.

When asked if the state knows the number of farmworkers that may be affected, Newsom said “that assessment is happening in real time and that number changes pretty dramatically.”

Those affected by the flooding should “apply as soon as possible. Don’t wait,” said Nancy Ward, director of the California Office of Emergency Services.

With many livelihoods at stake, Valero said he was thankful Newsom visited the Central Valley to survey the damage caused by several rounds of atmospheric rain in January, February and March.

“Tulare and Kings counties have been greatly impacted, strained and inundated,” Valero said. “People are tired. Homes are gutted and lands are unharvestable.”

Valle said Newsom’s visit “lowers the anxiety level in the community of Corcoran and the people that I represent.”

Both Valero and Valle, the only Latinos supervisors on their respective counties, reached out to Newsom’s office a few weeks ago with their concerns.

Kings County is 56% Latino, while Tulare County is 66.7% Latino.

Valle said he looks forward to working with Newsom’s office to “get past the challenging times that we have ahead of us.”

Challenging months

California has gone from an extreme drought (the state extended the drought proclamation in early December in some parts of the state) to weeks later having the first of 13 atmospheric rivers hit the state.

The state moved its emergency response from the drought to deal with the major flooding caused by the resurrected Tulare Lake.

“The damage inflicted on the region by the recent historic weather conditions is devastating,” said state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, in a statement after Newsom’s tour.

“Agriculture has been decimated by flooding with dedicated farmers and agriculture workers bearing the economic brunt of loss crops and flooded farmlands,” Hurtado said. “The economic consequences to the industry and our region will continue to be significant.”

Newsom expects the water in the basin to rise, and asked residents to remain vigilent, “but we can’t be impatient in terms of the impending floods and the damage that will occur here in a very short order.”

“We recognize the impact this has had on real people,” Newsom told reporters on a levee at Hansen Ranches equipment property on 6th Avenue south of Corcoran.

Earlier Newsom walked Main Street in Corcoran with Mayor Jeanette Zamora-Bragg, Valle and Valero. The group visited small business owneres that have expressed to the governor how business is down “because farmworkers can’t afford a beer after work.”

“Others are concerned about what’s coming in the next few weeks,” Newsom said.

Later in the day, Newsom and his team met with local leaders to address questions about the cost and scope of raising the Corcoran levee.

Newsom said it was important to get everybody – local, state and federal partners - on the same page.