UPDATE (1:40 p.m.): The Board of Supervisors has voted 4-0 in favor of providing additional aid to residents affected by the severe rainstorm and flooding on Jan. 22.
The funds include $6.6 million to pay for lodging and $3 million to provide three meals a day for 60 days. Supervisors also voted 4-0 to continue the local emergency declaration.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is expected to vote on how much additional money will be allocated towards extending housing and food assistance for victims of the Jan. 22 floods.
The vote comes at a critical time when county vouchers for lodging is set to expire March 25 and nonprofits helping flood victims have said they're running out of money.
"These are unprecedented times and they call for unprecedented responses," said board Chairwoman Nora Vargas.
"I'm tired of seeing my people hurt," one woman told supervisors. "I'm tired of getting the phone calls. I'm tired of having to mobilize to beg for basic necessities."
"I've heard a lot of your stories, but it is on the public record and that is very important as we move forward," Montgomery-Steppe said. She added that it was not her intention for residents to have beg for necessities.
Each of the items the board will vote on Tuesday will require a minimum of four votes each because the funding for the assistance will be pulled from the General Fund Reserve --which is currently below its minimum balance -- to go towards the Office of Emergency Services, Services & Supplies.
The votes will be for the following items:
1. Adopting a resolution allowing more money to go to flood victims.
2. Allocating an extra $6.6 million towards the temporary housing budget, as part of the county’s Emergency Temporary Non-Congregate Lodging (ETL) Program launched on Feb. 12, 2024.
3. Allocating up to $3 million towards food assistance.
That third vote above includes three different options the board will have to choose from, determining how many meals each flood victim would receive per day for the next two months:
a. One meal per day for sixty days at a total cost of up to $1,000,000. (4 VOTES)
b. Two meals per day for sixty days at a total cost of up to $2,000,000. (4 VOTES)
c. Three meals per day for sixty days at a total cost of up to $3,000,000. (4 VOTES)
Roy Gonzalez said he was at work when he got a call a frantic call from his teenage son.
"Calls me back. The whole house is underwater," said Gonzalez.
The situation became even more dire.
"He's on a kayak, and he doesn't know how to swim, so I'm trying to get to him," said Gonzalez.
Dozens of people shared heartbreaking stories of how they lost everything.
"The 22nd people came home from work to nothing. All they have is the clothes on their back," said one woman.
More than 2,000 other flood victims have been staying in hotels through the county's voucher program, which was set to expire on March 25th. Non-profits have been helping with meals, but many say children are going without enough food and basic necessities like diapers.
"I have a bed to stay in, but I will tell you the food that's coming to the Ramada right now. Kids are going hungry," said one woman.
