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Pajaro Valley residents who have been impacted by the winter storms through either damage to their apartment or home, or permanent or temporary loss of employment due to evacuations and/or storm damage may be eligible for local financial assistance.
Complete Community Bridges’ Damage Assessment Form to see if you qualify for help. Complete here online, or visit La Manzana Community Resources at 521 Main Street, Suite Y in downtown Watsonville to fill it out in person.
Filling out this form will allow community groups and social service providers to prioritize your case based on needs, and refer your information to agencies that can support you with volunteers, cleanup tools, food, and financial assistance, among other things. Families and individuals who make less than 80% of the Area Median Income are currently being prioritized until more funding is made available.
Clients who have already filled out the Community Bridges Damage Assessments through our community outreach or at La Manzana do not need to reapply.
March 17, 2023, at noon:
All evacuation orders and warnings in Santa Cruz County have been lifted. However, several North Monterey County communities remain under evacuation orders.
The best way to stay up to date with the latest evacuation updates is to find your “zone” on your respective county’s website. Santa Cruz County residents can find and track their zone HERE. Monterey County residents can find and track their zone HERE.
EVACUATION ORDERS:
North Monterey County
B-001, B-003, B-005, B-006, B-007, B-012, B-014, B-019
There are four overnight evacuation shelters in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties:
Each shelter site will provide a place to sleep, food, supplies, and support services. Pets are allowed at Santa Cruz County Fairground site if kept within carriers. The Fairgrounds’ site also has the capacity for large animal evacuation.
For more information, click HERE.
Due to the flooding in Pajaro that impacted drinking water facilities, the drinking water supplied by Pajaro Water System (Pajaro WS) is possibly contaminated. The State Water Resources Control Board, Monterey County, and Pajaro/Sunny Mesa CSD are advising residents of Pajaro to NOT USE THE TAP WATER FOR DRINKING AND COOKING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Click the links below
STORM & FLOOD RECOVERY
Insurance Information Webinars
STAY PREPARED
CZU FIRE RECOVERY
Santa Cruz County Fire Recovery Resources
Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group CZU Rebuild Guide
Santa Cruz County Post-Fire Watershed Recovery Guide
Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley residents who have been impacted by the winter storms through either damage to their apartment or home, or permanent or temporary loss of employment due to evacuations and/or storm damage may be eligible for local financial assistance.
Complete Community Bridges’ Damage Assessment Form to see if you qualify for help. Complete here online, or visit your nearest FRC location to fill it out in person.
Filling out this form will allow community groups and social service providers to prioritize your case based on needs, and refer your information to agencies that can support you with volunteers, cleanup tools, food, and financial assistance, among other things. Families and individuals who make less than 80% of the Area Median Income are currently being prioritized until more funding is made available.
Clients who have already filled out the Community Bridges Damage Assessments through our neighborhood outreach or community outreach events do not need to reapply.
President Biden authorized a major disaster declaration for Santa Cruz County on Jan. 14. The declaration is meant to assist local governments, nonprofits, families, and individuals in recovering from the recent winter storms through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and Small Business Administration loans.
This may include financial assistance for cleanup and sanitation, repairs and other services for eligible agencies and households. Additional resources, including referral lists and legal aid, may be available.
FEMA applications must be submitted by March 16.
Santa Cruz County has four in-person Disaster Recovery Centers open on weekdays.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration staff will be available to assist residents and businesses in their recovery from the recent winter storms. Local social service providers will also be available.
The locations and operating hours are below:
SAN LORENZO VALLEY
SANTA CRUZ
WATSONVILLE
The Count of Santa Cruz also has a virtual recovery center available here.
You may qualify for cash assistance to pay for a hotel, temporary rental housing, basic household items or related needs not covered by insurance or other sources. Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley community organizations are providing direct financial assistance to local residents and connecting them to other resources.
Dial 211, or contact any of the resource centers below:
Community Bridges is providing cleanup tools and resources at our Family Resource Collective (FRC) locations to help our community recover from the devastating storms, floods and mudslides produced by the recent unprecedented winter storms.
Community members can rent cleanup items such as air movers, dehumidifiers, wet/dry vacs, carpet cleaners, push brooms, and pressure washers, at no cost. Other single-use cleanup items, such as contractor bags, gloves, sponges, and disinfectant are also available for the community through generous support of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, American Red Cross and Home Depot Foundation grants.
These items are available at the following FRCs (We ask that you call ahead and check for availability):
La Manzana Community Resources – 521 Main Street, Ste. Y, Watsonville | 831-724-2997
Live Oak Community Resources – 1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz | 831-476-7284
Mountain Community Resources – 6134 Highway 9, Felton | 831-335-6600
To rent the equipment, simply complete a damage assessment form and liability release form at one of our FRC locations. Equipment is due and will need to be returned no more than of one week after check out or any time before then. We would like to give as many people as possible the opportunity to utilize the equipment.
Community Bridges purchased the majority of the cleanup items available for rent and disbursement through the use of strategic agency reserves. In an effort to expand the program, we are asking the community to donate lightly used tools and new single-use items for the cleanup effort.
Donations can be dropped off at any of our participating FRC locations.
The Small Business Administration will offer low-interest disaster loans to California businesses and residents following the recent severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.
Businesses and nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates can be as low as 3.305% for businesses, 2.375% for nonprofits and 2.313% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
For information on the loan program, visit sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
Community Bridges Family Resource Centers provide resource referral & coordination, financial assistance and public benefit enrollment. Please call or visit any of the locations listed below.
Felton: Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Highway 9
Monday and Thursday: 9am to 12:30pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am to 12pm (by appointment 1-5pm)
Phone (831) 335-6600
Watsonville: La Manzana Community Resources, 521 Main St., Suite Y
Monday-Friday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4:30pm
(831) 724-2997
Live Oak: Live Oak Community Resources, 1740 17th Ave.
Monday-Thursday, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm
(831) 476-7284
Santa Cruz: Nueva Vista Community Resources, 711 East Cliff Dr.
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 5pm (Closed Thursdays)
Phone (831) 423-5741
Through participation in the Santa Cruz County Long Term Recovery Group, Community Bridges and Catholic Charities provide Disaster Case Manager support for families in need of assistance as they navigate the rebuilding process following the CZU August 2020 Lightning Fire.
Disaster Case Managers provide one-on-one support to achieve effective communication with the Recovery Permit Center and connect families with resources, including funding through the Unmet Needs Committee for families that are experiencing rebuild funding gaps.
To connect with a Disaster Case Manager, please email CZUFireHelp@gmail.com or call 831-920-4764.
To support frontline fire recovery services in your community, please visit:
Santa Cruz Community Foundation Fire Relief Fund
Community Bridges is providing direct financial assistance, including grocery gift cards, to families impacted by the fire.
Click to view Emergency Updates on Twitter by Puentes_SC.
519 Main Street
Watsonville, California 95076
Phone: 831-688-8840
Fax: 831-688-8302
Email: info@cbridges.org
Community Bridges is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Federal Tax ID number: 94-2460211
