Federal Disaster Declaration in San Diego for January Winter Storms
President Biden issued a Major Disaster Declaration for San Diego in response to the severe flooding we experienced in January.
My office has compiled a list of Resources for those affected by January Winter Storms:
FEMA Fact Sheet: English / Español
Free Services Available to San Diego County Severe Storm and Flooding Survivors:
Para gente que necesitan ayuda en Español llama 800-985-5990 y marca el numero “2” a reciben asistencia.
If you were affected by the flooding, you can register with FEMA to determine your eligibility for assistance. You can do this by calling their hotline at 800-621-3362 to see what you’re eligible for.
You can also visit www.disasterassistance.gov or the FEMA app. Both my Chula Vista and Washington D.C. offices are available to help connect you to FEMA.
Once you register with FEMA, FEMA has said, it takes about 20 minutes to complete the process. You will be asked for basic information like your name, number, social security number and address of damaged property.
Then, according to FEMA, in about 7-10 days FEMA will dispatch an inspector to their property to verify the damages. Once everything is accounted for, the claim will go to a FEMA processing center where FEMA will determine the amount of relief people will directly receive. FEMA may offer rental assistance, grants for repairs to homes, funds to replace uninsured personal property, and other damages.
Disaster Recovery Centers Opening in San Diego County
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the County of San Diego and FEMA, along with state and local partners, will open Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) in San Diego County starting March 1, 2024.
These temporary facilities are set up to help survivors recover from the severe storm and flooding during Jan. 21-23, 2024.
Survivors have through April 19, 2024 to apply for assistance.
Immigration status checks are not available at the DRCs.
Disaster Recovery Centers operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT, seven days a week unless otherwise noted.
Mountainview Community Center
641 South Boundary Street
San Diego, CA 92113
Spring Valley Library
836 Kempton Street
Spring Valley, CA 91977
DRCs provide disaster survivors with information from California state agencies, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. At a DRC, survivors can get help applying for federal assistance and disaster loans, updating applications, and learning about other available resources.
The Small Business Administration has opened a San Diego County Business Recovery Center:
Location: Southwestern College, Higher Education Center National City, First Floor, Room 7100 - Center for Business Advancement
880 National City Blvd.
National City, CA 91950
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Apply online: https://lending.sba.gov
Contact: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Call: 1-800-659-2955
Sweetwater Authority Governing Board: provides support to local residents affected by recent flooding, and encourages those affected to determine eligibility at: https://bit.ly/48tGan0
Reporting Damage and other resources:
Report flooding by contacting the City of San Diego's dispatch center at 619-527-7500. The city encourages people to report damage to sidewalks or streets and clogged storm drains.
Report non-emergency problems, including but not limited to blocked storm drains, potholes, and broken street lights via the Get it Done app.
Contact your property insurance carrier to report damages to your property and learn how to file a claim with the City of San Diego for flood damage.
Click here for a list of locations in San Diego. The county has a list of sandbag locations for people living in both unincorporated regions and incorporated areas.