San Benito County issued an immediate evacuation notice for the 6000 block of Lover’s Lane and Lake Road in Hollister at 12:26 p.m. on Jan. 9. The road is now closed to everyone except emergency vehicles and local residents. The Hollister Veterans Memorial building is staffed by members of the American Red Cross and is being used as an evacuation center.
“We’re doing evacuations with high-water vehicles at Lovers Lane right now,” said San Benito County Undersheriff Tom Keylon. “We’re trying to get the people who are trapped out first, and then they will be transferred to the Vet’s building. And we are trying to get animal control to get some units out here to make some animal rescues.”
David Guttirez of the American Red Cross said his team is prepared to handle whatever needs the evacuees might have.
“We are setting up for around 30 [people] right now and we’ll bring all the supplies,” he said. “They will be able to stay if need be, and we will have food and cots. We’re open to anyone who needs us and we’ll take care of them.”
Veterans Memorial Building manager Maria Spandri said that during the last flood, they sheltered around 70 people.
“We do have our partners coming and bringing stuff, but we could use the donations,” she said. “We need diapers. We need small kids’ shoes and sweatpants for women and men because, obviously, they’re wet. The animal shelter is bringing crates, and we have a room where we can accommodate some pets. They will be bringing food and water, but we’ll need donations of dog and cat food.”
Bolado Park has been opened only to large animal rescues from Lover’s Lane, according to Dara Tobias, CEO of the 33rd Agricultural District.
“We are a little limited as far as space available,” she said. “We are actually experiencing flooding in the lower portion of the park, but we will take as many animals as we can. It is only for large animals—no ducks or rabbits. I have stalls for horses and cattle, and we could handle goats and pigs.”
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch until Jan 10.
Resources
The Community Foundation for San Benito County announced it opened a Disaster Recovery Fund to aid community members experiencing hardships related to the storm conditions and flooding.
The fund is dedicated to providing relief to those in the county affected by local disasters, including floods, fire, earthquakes, and more.
Gifts to the San Benito Disaster Recovery Fund can be made through the Foundation’s website, or mailed to the Community Foundation. Checks should be payable to CFFSBC and “Disaster Fund” written in the memo line.
For more information, call the Foundation at 831-630-1924
According to Gary Byrne, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, the application process and how funds will be distributed have not be finalized. In the past they have worked with the Hollister Fire Department and the Red Cross to get funds where they needed to be. He added the Foundation will also apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and funding from the State.
Authorities are sending residents who evacuate their homes because of flooding to the Veterans Memorial Building located in Hollister at649 San Benito Street.
Agencies responding to flooding include:
- The Office of Emergency. Residents can register to receive emergency notifications via email or text through Code Red and/or Nixle.
- The American Red Cross
- San Benito County Sheriff’s Office
- San Benito County Search and Rescue
- Hollister Police
- Hollister Fire Department
- CalFire
- CHP Hollister-Gilroy area
- Hollister Police Animal Care and Services
- Bolado Park
Sandbags are be available to residents on a self-serve basis for localized flooding emergencies. These items are on a first come first serve basis. A pile of sand and burlaps bags will be located at the following locations:
- Hollister Airport- 60 Airport Drive, Hollister
- Hollister Fire Station 2- 1000 Union Road, Hollister
- County Yard- 3220 Southside Road, Hollister
- San Juan Bautista City Yard- Jefferson & First Streets, San Juan Bautista
- Aromas Tri-County Fire Protection Dist.- 492 Carpenteria Rd, Aromas
Video by Justin Tobin used with permission:
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