U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta announced that he had secured $14.6 million in reimbursements for local governments in California’s 19th Congressional District from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help repair and restore infrastructure damaged by the 2023 and 2024 winter storms.
“Our communities continue to struggle to find the funding necessary to repair the damage from past storms,” Panetta said. “These FEMA reimbursements will help cover the costs of repairs and ensure that our local governments are not left on their own to shoulder the financial burden. No matter the Administration in power, I’m committed to pressuring the federal government to deliver for our home so we can rebuild stronger and provide our residents with the safe and reliable infrastructure.”
The FEMA reimbursements include:
- Santa Cruz County – $2.2 million (Mountain Charlie Road): The 2024 winter storms caused catastrophic damage to Mountain Charlie Road, isolating dozens of families in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This reimbursement funds stabilization and repairs to reopen the road, restoring critical access for emergency services, daily commutes and wildfire evacuation routes.
- City of Santa Cruz – $1.6 million (Felton Diversion Pipeline): Severe flooding in Zayante Creek eroded embankments and exposed the Felton Diversion Pipeline, breaking the line and washing out the dirt trail used as a maintenance road. This reimbursement covers pipeline replacement, embankment stabilization, and hazard mitigation measures like riprap armoring to prevent future failures.
- Santa Cruz County – $1.2 million (Emergency Operations): During the height of the 2023 storms, the County stood up emergency operations centers, ran shelters for residents and animals, conducted evacuations, and performed urgent road and levee repairs. FEMA is reimbursing these life-saving emergency protective measures.
- Santa Cruz County – $2 million (Culvert Repairs): Nine culverts and adjoining roads across the County were washed out or collapsed due to flooding and landslides. This funding reimburses permanent repairs, including the replacement of culvert pipes, restoration of embankments and hazard mitigation to reinforce headwalls and protect against future damage.
