Santa Cruz county looking into FEMA money to help fix Mountain Charlie road

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — The county of Santa Cruz says that the damaged road in the Santa Cruz mountains is still years away from repairs. Residents are hearing that the county wants to secure funding from FEMA and repairs can take three to five years to start.

An estimated 65 families are affected residents of Mountain Charlie road in the Santa Cruz mountains are feeling isolated after devastating road damage and closures.

This happened late February and the county is still looking to FEMA for funding.

Many residents are uncertain about the future of their road.

“It's very disheartening to think that we could be three Winters," Dan Ferris Mountain Charlie road resident said. "Trying to manage and, figure out how do we make it, it's going to be challenging."

Santa Cruz county officials are working to secure federal funding that is estimated to cost at least 3 million dollars.

"We would need to work with FEMA to show the scope of the project, and of course, submit the geotechnical report but, the timeline for that could be anywhere from three months to an entire year before, we get funding from FEMA for that," Tiffany Martinez Departmental Communications Officer said.

Residents want to see initiatives sooner than later.

"Getting this thing started earlier than three years that's my hope," Ferris said.

Five homes sit at the end of a private road that is connected to Mountain Charlie road and it's now collapsed.

The estimated cost to fix it is one million dollars, but the county can't spend public money on a private road.

"The repairs to that private driveway influences the repairs for mountain road as well, and we have to work together with residents whenever we get funding," Martinez said.

The driveway serves as one of the only vehicle access points to the area.

It affects residents as young as two until 80 years old, who have been cut off for over four months.

"So there's a high level of anxiety concern, we have some senior citizens one that's 84 and a woman in her 50s, I believe, who, can only get around by a walker," Ferris said. "We started work out some extra finagling around of how to get her safely out but she's missed doctors appointments, pills, and it feels pretty isolated."

Residents also worry how they would evacuate during an emergency with their main road shut down. 

“Our concerns again, are being stuck, with a significant winter storm, extended power, power outages and really feeling trapped," Ferris said.

Solutions such as a temporary gravel road are being considered to alleviate immediate access concerns.