WATSONVILLE—Two disaster recovery centers are now open in Watsonville and in Pajaro to help Pajaro flood victims navigate the relief programs available to them.
One center is open daily from 9am to 7pm at Old City Hall, 250 Main St. in Watsonville. There, residents can find the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and several state and local agencies.
The second is at Pajaro Park at 24 San Juan Road, which also offers FEMA and SBA assistance, along with limited state and county services. It is open from 9am-7pm, seven days a week.
But those centers are both small, and would be better placed in the considerably larger Ramsay Park Family Center, which previously hosted a Covid-19 vaccination center, says Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo.
Worse, the Pajaro Park location is subject to cold and bad weather, Alejo said.
“It’s inexcusable that the City Manager’s Office has not made the Ramsay Park Center available to Pajaro residents so that there can be a one-stop center for all federal, state, county and non-profit assistance under one roof,” he said. “The City knew FEMA would be coming and should have been offering this from the very beginning. I still haven’t heard a good excuse from the City Manager about why they haven’t offered Ramsay yet or the Community Room at City Hall.”
Watsonville City Manager Rene Mendez said that Monterey County never requested the center to be placed at Ramsay Park.
“We were always engaged, and we were helping in any way we could,” he said.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for seven counties on April 3, freeing up federal money for people whose lives were upended by the storms and flooding.
Storm and flood victims can now call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 800.621.3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov to file a claim to get funds to help them rebuild and pay for expenses incurred during evacuation and subsequent living expenses.
FEMA representatives and those from other agencies are on hand at the center to help register people for assistance.
FEMA spokeswoman Tiana Suber says that it’s important to have all the relevant paperwork before applying for assistance.
Those with their own insurance should file a claim first, she says, adding that not meeting the requirements could result in an initial denial.
“With FEMA you have to follow all the way through,” she said. “That’s the important part. Otherwise it stops the process.”
Also important to know is that FEMA will call from an unknown number after the initial application. It is vital to answer it, Suber says.
“People will miss their inspection if they miss the call, and if you don’t get that inspection it kind of halts the process as well,” she says. “And it will be as if it was a no-show if nobody answers the phone or door.”
The Main Street center replaces the Local Assistance Center at the Veterans Memorial Building in Watsonville, operated by the County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management, which opened March 29.
Daniel Gonzalez of the Department of Emergency Management said the site at the Veterans Memorial Building served a little more than 1,000 families since it opened, and saw an uptick in activity since Biden signed the declaration.
Halfway through its first day of operation on April 7, the Old City Hall site saw 103 visitors and registered 55 for assistance, according to Suber.
“We’re letting everybody know we’re here and we’re ready to help,” she said. “If you need to come to the disaster recovery center and need that one-on-one help, please do not hesitate.”
Suber noted that the center has been receiving many inquiries from visitors regarding immigration status, adding that FEMA does not share that information.
Non-citizens may qualify for financial assistance if they are green card holders, have been granted asylum, or meet other requirements. Those that do not meet citizenship or immigration requirements may be eligible for other services, such as crisis counseling assistance, legal help, case management and more.
Those who are undocumented can also apply for assistance on behalf of their minor children, as long as they are U.S. citizens and live in the same household.
For information, visit bit.ly/3nUgHS6.
Laura Emmons of the County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management said crews have made progress on removing flood-damaged debris from Pajaro, with the goal to complete the first phase by the end of the month. Residents are advised to move damaged goods to the curb by April 24.
Additionally, there are hygiene stations and a resource and information center set up for Pajaro residents and businesses at the front parking lot to Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Road.
Thank you for the information.