‘Don’t forget about us.’ Planada residents make plea to Merced supervisors after floods
The recent storms and floods that caused havoc in Merced County was a main topic of discussion during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
Supervisors received an update on the impact of the flooding on the county.
Meanwhile, Planada residents pleaded for leaders to remember their community as they try to regroup.
“Don’t forget about us,” Planada resident Luci Chavez said.
“We’re unincorporated, we don’t have a mayor, we don’t have that puppet master pulling the strings. I think people are wondering where that leadership is going to come from, who is going to speak up for us?”
Chavez says administrators at Le Grand High School and Cesar E. Chavez Middle School have done a great job of collecting donations for people in Le Grand and Planada.
However, those communities still needs help cleaning up. Chavez said she drove by dumpsters in town Tuesday and they were almost full again.
“It’s still early in the week,” Chavez said. “We need those dumpsters to be emptied regularly.”
“I think a lot of people are getting their immediate needs met as far as food and clothing, but we’re starting to get into the next phase. I think people are worried about having money to pay bills,” she added.
“Not everyone can claim unemployment. There are a lot of rental properties and many people won’t be able to pay rent.”
Costs associated with flood under investigation
During his incident report to supervisors, Merced County Fire Assistant Chief Mark Pimentel said preliminary estimates put the number of residents evacuated in Planada at 4,000. Another 3,400 Le Grand residents and 1,400 McSwain residents were given evacuation warnings.
As of Jan. 18 there were still 62 residents still staying at the evacuation center set up at the Merced County Fairgrounds, Pimentel said. The evacuation centers set up at Los Banos and Atwater have both been deactivated.
Officials didn’t have a specific dollar amount Tuesday for the damage and costs associated with flood. Pimentel said county officials will be evaluating the damage for weeks and months to come.
Bear Creek, Black Rascal Creek and Miles Creek. were impacted the worst locally. The flood caused extended closures for Planada Elementary and McSwain Elementary schools.
Classrooms and other buildings at Planada Elementary were damaged by flood water.
School was able to resume on Monday in Planada as administrators adjusted schedules and moved some students from Planada Elementary School to to Cesar E. Chavez Middle School.
There are 453 students at Planada Elementary School and 432 students at Cesar E. Chavez Middle School.
School was able to resume at McSwain Elementary once the flood water receded and people could access the school.
“None of (McSwain Elementary’s) buildings were damaged during the floods,” Pimentel said. “But they did have access issues. There were 887 students who were displaced for a little while.”
According to Pimentel there were about 500 residences in county areas affected by the floods and 30 commercial structures. Those businesses employ up to 400 people and most are looking at a lengthy interruptions of service.
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 1:59 PM with the headline "‘Don’t forget about us.’ Planada residents make plea to Merced supervisors after floods."
