SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A Southcrest flood victim says he is likely out of luck when recovering the value of his six-figure Hot Wheels collection, ruined in the January floods.
“Many of the packages are still wet,” Antonio Monzon, Jr. said.
For Monzon, the usual joy of sifting through his Hot Wheels collection has turned to something else.
“It's really heartbreaking,” Monzon said.
The Jan. 22 floods caused heartbreak when the floodwaters submerged his Gamma Street home, where he lives with his sons, ages 4 and 6.
Monzon says nearly all of his belongings were ruined by the flood, including the contents of 16 bins on the bottom shelf in a bedroom: his prized Hot Wheels collection of some 7,000 to 8,000 cars, which he has been collecting since he was a kid. Most are special edition cars.
“Some I’ve bought 20, 25 years ago, for $5, $10, $25, even $100, that are now worth in the thousands,” Monzon said.
Monzon had listed part of his collection for his homeowner's insurance but didn't have flood insurance. He said the total loss from his collection could be more than $150,000.
"It is devastating because these were slated to be my boys’ college fund or their future,” Monzon said.
The value of that collection is now falling apart.
“Now that it got wet, the packaging comes apart … It has to be inside the package to be considered [a] mint condition,” said Monzon.
Monzon bought some Hot Wheels out of the packaging. He stored them in foam cases. He spent part of Thursday afternoon wringing water out of the foam.
Monzon pointed out his damaged Hot Wheels collection during a recent FEMA inspection. Still, he was told toys and similar items would not be included in any funds for personal property loss.
Monzon is hopeful some of the cars can be dried out and sold at a fraction of their values.
“It’s something I’ve been saving for my whole life. In a [of] couple hours, it's gone,” said Monzon.
Monzon says he's expecting a decision on FEMA funding for his home repairs and other property loss in the next week.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help him with his rebuild.
