Rep. Jimmy Panetta received an eye-opening visual Friday of the damage incurred by the San Lorenzo Valley following the 2023 storms. He says he is working to make sure the federal government takes care of the region during recovery.
Storms 2023: Road to Recovery
![FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell [second from right] views damage to Seacliff State Beach with state and local officials.](https://i0.wp.com/lookout.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/urlhttp3A2F2Flookout-local-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com2F152F522F4259b26b416c9ef9b4f4da12953c2F97a2656.jpg?resize=872%2C490&ssl=1)
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Where we stand on Sunday: Biden declares major disaster in Santa Cruz County amid more storm evacuations, flooding
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and members of her staff visited parts of Rio Del Mar and Capitola, and were set to survey areas of San Lorenzo Valley as part of a multiday tour to asses whether to issue a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz County communities devastated by floods, landslides and power outages after several rounds of intense storms.
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California braces for more storms. When will they hit and how bad will they be?
Northern California, already battered by severe flooding, is expected to be at higher risk than Southern California as more rain rolled in Friday.
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Mass storm outages bring misery across California, exposing power grid’s vulnerabilities
California’s power grid is typically tested during wildfire season or intense heat waves, but a winter storm system has challenged the state’s electric grid in new ways. Experts say resiliency measures are needed.
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Storm damage: On Highway 17, a huge pothole nicknamed ‘Potzilla’ is chewing up commuters’ tires
Since a series of storms began on New Year’s Eve, Californians have taken to social media to share images of sinkholes and potholes. On Highway 17, a “Potzilla” in a southbound lane has caused numerous flat tires near The Cats Restaurant and Tavern in Los Gatos. A Caltrans spokesperson said workers have repaired the pothole several times in recent weeks “but the unprecedented amount of rain will just wash away the asphalt mix.”
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Newsom, Congress push Biden to declare a major disaster in California following storms
If Santa Cruz County and the rest of the Central Coast are going to receive the money needed to recover after the winter storms, President Joe Biden will need to formally declare a major disaster in California. On Thursday, the powers that be turned up the heat to ensure that happens.
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Storm damage tops $36 million across Santa Cruz County, but local officials warn estimates could double
Santa Cruz County and its four cities sustained more than $36 million in damages to public infrastructure in storms that also damaged at least 200 homes. Local officials say they expect that figure to grow dramatically in the weeks to come as they continue to assess the devastation wrought by storm surges, floods and landslides. And more rain is on the way.
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California suddenly has so much snow — ‘great elixir for drought’ but unlikely the cure
A battery of January storms has blanketed the Sierra Nevada in extraordinary snowpack, but will it last through the winter?
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Atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones and red tags: A guide to storm lingo
As storms continue to rage through Santa Cruz County, there’s a hurricane of technical terms and official statements whirling across the region. In this quick guide, Lookout defines some essential words and phrases about the recent extreme weather.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
From the Civic to Depot Park: How are Santa Cruz’s unhoused citizens holding up in the storms?
Helping Santa Cruz’s most vulnerable residents, those experiencing chronic homelessness, find cover from the elements has been challenging during this historic run of extreme winter weather. An emergency 24/7 shelter at the Civic Auditorium was shut down due to what the city called “inadequate resources” and what others described as a chaotic environment. Another smaller overnight shelter that launched at Depot Park is attempting to fill the void and staffed by an organization better equipped to handle the unhoused population, observers say.