Nonprofit works to help flood victims with housing
SAN DIEGO — Just 15 days after historic rain and flooding devastated several communities of southeast San Diego, members of the San Diego City Council are apologizing for the slow response and thanking those who stepped up to help.
“What we were not nearly as prepared for was to support the human needs that popped up after the flooding happened,” said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera.
The Harvey Family Foundation is just one of 15 non-profits that jumped into action following the floods in the hardest hit areas.
“Our team did an intake of over 600 households to assess immediate needs of families including donation needs, deliveries for those who lost their cars, urgent medical needs, clean up assistance, housing needs, mental health needs and food distribution.”
City votes to request governor for federal major disaster declaration for Jan. 22 flooding
Collectively called the Southeast Disaster Response team, they are the unsung heroes who mobilized all the essentials from food and water to clothes and housing and so much more. “We developed five hotspots with boots on the ground in Mountain View, Southcrest, Shelltown, Encanto, and Emerald Hills.”
Falling back on systems of mobilization efforts during COVID, they created a QR CODE system making it easy for those impacted to get help.
‘I started getting really scared.’ Mountain View neighborhood on edge amid storm
“We canvased the hot spots within the area, specifically and not coincidentally it was along the Chollas Creek. All they had to do was to take the information, fill out the QR code, and that would give us all the information to apply our services.”
To date, this group mobilized at least 75 volunteers a day at all their different locations, cleared nearly 30 homes, served 17,000 hot meals, distributed 75 tons of sand and sand bags, provided mental health support and essential medical supplies.
SDUSD families grateful for hotel vouchers from previous flooding amid inclement weather
City Councilmember Vivian Moreno acknowledged the city’s lack of preparedness.
“The thing that I can’t get out of my senses is the trauma that we saw during these floods.”
This meeting was not intended to point fingers, but rather share information and come together.
“It was really tough and these folks were a lifeline to a lot of people,” said Elo-Rivera. “So I am forever grateful and I’m sure the folks that you served will be forever grateful for it as well.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
