WATSONVILLE—As Watsonville residents on Monday shoveled mud from their homes and assessed damage from the storm that wrought havoc and destruction across Santa Cruz County, City officials were urging residents to prepare for the next deluge expected on Wednesday.
“Prepare for flooding, and prepare for evacuation,” said City spokeswoman Michelle Pulido.
The city is offering free sandbags at two sites in Watsonville, and conducting a door-to-door campaign in the senior villages warning residents there of what to expect, and what services they have to help in their recovery.
Meanwhile, workers with shovels and with heavy machinery were removing mud and debris from homes, driveways and waterways.
“I have no washer, no dryer, no freezer,” said Susan Louden, who has lived in her Anderson Drive home for 21 years.
The floodwaters entered her garage, destroying the appliances and most of the items stored there, and at one point came bubbling up through her floorboards, she said.
Louden has the flood insurance required of homeowners living in the floodplains of the Pajaro River—and of Corralitos and Salsipuedes Creek—and also has possible financial assistance coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. But since Monday was a federal holiday, Louden was waiting for Tuesday when a probable slog through mountains of red tape will begin for her and the other victims of the flood as they wrangle with insurance providers and restoration services.
Watsonville officials are now urging everyone to sign up to receive reverse-911 alerts through their cell phones, to help them stay better informed about the changing storm conditions. That can be found at www.scr911.org.
Residents can also download the Watsonville Police Department app to receive emergency alerts.
Sandbags are available at Ramsay Park and at Fire Station 1 at 115 Second St.
i was told McKenzie Park.
sandbags can only do so much. the rest is up to the city and county for diversion of water. residents can help keep their street storm drains clear. put NO trash in your gutters or curbs, unless it is IN your trash bins the day it is collected .