Panetta tours Hollister flood area

UPDATED 1/25/17 6:30PM: One of the hardest hit areas by the recent storms is Lovers Lane neighborhood in Hollister.

Wednesday, Congressman Jimmy Panetta toured the area as residents worked to clean up and rebuild.

“This is the force of nature, Mother Nature at its best or at its worst. However you want to put it” Panetta said.

On the heels of the devastation caused by the floods after a levee breach during several storms this month, San Benito County officials took the California Congressman on a tour to witness the toll on the area. The first stop was Pacheco Creek just off of Lovers Lane. “It’s good to get eyes on it, to see it and in my duty as kind of being the bridge from the county and state to the federal government” Panetta said. “That I can at least continue advocating for resources for funding to get back here to help us remedy the situation.” Panetta also spoke with county emergency services to discuss the next steps needed to move forward. “Our priority right now is to make sure we protect all the houses that don’t own this levee” said Kevin O’Neill Emergency Services Manager with San Benito County. “Making sure we do those emergency protective measures so that if we get another large rainstorm, those houses aren’t inundated with floodwaters again.” Ted Zanella lives near the levee, he’s taken government officials to damaged spots on his off road vehicle. He says Panetta’s visit is a sign of hope. “I’m really happy that everybody’s getting involved now and now we might get some relief that’s needed.” Zanella said. To get that relief, Panetta says he’s focused on getting funding from FEMA to reimburse the state and county expenses. “Once we do the process of getting it through, getting the right numbers making that determination, that should happen” Panetta said. “That’s our responsibility, to make sure it is [happening], that’s why I’m here.”

PREVIOUS STORY: Congressman Jimmy Panetta got a firsthand look Wednesday at the damage caused by two levee breaks on Pacheco Creek north of Hollister.

Panetta joined San Benito County supervisor Mark Medina and county emergency services manager Kevin O’Neil for a tour of the Lovers Lane area, where separate levee breaks this month flooded homes and forced the evacuation of more than 100 people.

KION’s Zach Fuentes went along on the tour, and tonight at 6 p.m., he’ll report on what the congressman and local officials learned.