Community Corner

Community Forum to Aid Residents in Flood Recovery

A date and location has not been set.

Nearly two months after , in low-lying areas and sending mud sliding into houses in the hills, the City Council is organizing a community forum aimed at helping residents recover from damages.

On Tuesday night, the Council reviewed the caused in public areas, which so far, total more than $440,000.

Not of all the costs have been tallied, and City Manager Joe Tait has said he expects the costs to soar into the millions. The city is applying to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse it for most of the costs following the declaration of .

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Council members said they want the forum—which does not yet have a set date—to teach residents, businesses owners and homeowner association leaders how they may receive .

"This is probably one of the larger disaster-type situations we’ve had to endeavour," said Mayor Sam Allevato.

Find out what's happening in San Juan Capistranowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Immediately following the floods, several residents from the Mission Flats area—the second-oldest neighborhood in San Juan—when their homes were flooded with overflow from El Horno Creek. So, the Council on Tuesday night had staffers give a presentation on the rain-related incidents they responded to during the week when heavy storms pounded the area.

Life-long resident and former Orange County sheriff Brad Gates said he's seen El Horno Creek flood many times, but the effects have grown worse since the 5 freeway was constructed above it.

"There was a lot of finger pointing, a lot of outrage," said Allevato.

Because those residents who demanded answers from the city following the flooding were not present at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Allevato said he wants to hold this community meeting to address their questions.


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