Generosity in Action
Storms Response & Resources
Photo: Kevin Painchaud/Lookout Local
Our community has a history of coming together in times of disaster.
In response to the January and March storms and floods of 2023, grants from the Disaster Fund are supporting frontline nonprofits, the small business and agricultural community, and others to respond to storm and flood-related needs throughout Santa Cruz County and the entire Pajaro Valley, including the town of Pajaro.
Responding to Needs in Pajaro, San Lorenzo Valleys & In Between
Following widespread damage from the storms and the Pajaro levee breach, we're grateful to have a system in place for getting rapid and flexible funding to trusted local nonprofits serving those in need.
Disaster Fund grants prioritize organizations with deep roots and strong experience serving impacted communities, particularly those disproportionately affected like seniors, the medically vulnerable, Spanish and indigenous language speaking communities and people who won't qualify for FEMA or public aid programs.
Your Generosity at Work
Your generosity is powering every aspect of this disaster response and will continue to do so as long as donations allow. Since January, we have issued $3.2 million in storm and flood response grants to help from Pajaro to the San Lorenzo Valley. This includes $1.3 million in funding to nonprofits offering assistance to residents affected by Pajaro levee breach on March 11th. (Click the arrow symbol on the table below for a detailed listing of grants per category.)
Disaster Fund Grants
Basic Needs & Cash Aid - $1,956,000
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey: to support Pajaro residents after the Pajaro flood
- Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County: for direct assistance to displaced workers and people who have lost their housing, wages or both
- Community Bridges: to support Pajaro residents after the Pajaro flood
- Monarch Services: to support Pajaro residents after the Pajaro flood
- Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance: to support Pajaro residents after the Pajaro flood
- Harmon Gulch Road community: for relief during prolonged power outage including temporary housing for medically fragile residents
Emergency Response & Immediate Safety - $206,603
- Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County: for evacuation support, volunteer management, sandbagging, safety messaging, flood disaster response efforts; staff overtime hours and expenses; emergency supplies
- Community Bridges: for hotels costs for evacuees, Liftline overtime, increased services for Meals on Wheels, transportation, evacuations, support for FEMA applications
- Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County: for cleanup supplies and crews
- Salvation Army Watsonville: for supplies for those affected by the winter storms and Pajaro flood
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County: for food at shelters and delivered to medically fragile evacuees and to replenish warehouse food supply
- Salud Para La Gente: for medical supplies (baby wash tubs, shoes to prevent toe fungus spread, lactation supplies, privacy screens, etc.) and hotel room stays for medically fragile evacuees
- Raíces y Cariño: to support with the collection, sorting, and distribution of donated goods for Pajaro evacuees
- City of Watsonville: for waived disposal charges for storm-affected residents who lost possessions
Capitola Business Community & Workforce - $250,500
- Capitola restaurant workforce - financial assistance for restaurant workers affected by the storm
- Capitola business community - aid to 25 restaurants in Capitola Village to help with physical damage needing repairs or replacement materials and loss of perishables
Long-Term Recovery & Unmet Needs - $395,000
- Community Bridges: for disaster case management to aid residents with their recovery from the storms
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey: for disaster case management to aid residents with their recovery from the storm
Agricultural Community - $250,000
- Community Alliance with Family Farmers: to support small scale farmers with field and equipment damage and lost crops
- California FarmLink: to support small scale farmers with storm related losses
Environmental Restoration - $70,270
- Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County: for land management and remediation, safe return guidance to residents in flooded and damaged areas
- Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks: for trail access rebuilding at Seacliff State Park
- Coastal Watershed Council & Save Our Shores: for beach and river cleanups
How to help
Our Disaster Fund is a trusted place for neighbors to help neighbors who have been harmed by these storms and floods, including residents of Pajaro.
Resources
People who've lost housing or wages as a result of the storms and floods 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.
Limited, one-time funding prioritizing those with the highest needs, is available thanks to donations to our Disaster Fund. Residents with funding gaps who would otherwise not be able to repair or rebuild their homes will be assessed for potential support through disaster case managers at partner agencies.
Other Resources:
- Santa Cruz Local Storm resources in English & Español
- Insurance Claim & Recovery Help
- Managing Storm Impacts on Your Property & Other Guides from Resource Conservation District
- California Flooding Home Clean-Up Hotline
- Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience
- FEMA's Individuals & Households Program - Link to website / link to informational PDF - information on financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by disaster who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs
Questions?
For information about funding or grant applications: grants@cfscc.org
For questions about making a donation contact Donor Services Officer Hana Kong: YKong@cfscc.org
