Officials tour Santa Cruz County storm damage

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo represents parts of Santa Cruz County. She toured the area, getting a glimpse of the devastation caused by recent, powerful storms.

“Jaw dropping, miraculous,” said Eshoo. “Angels must have been guarding people in the area. This is extraordinary damage. It needs to be taken care of ASAP.”

Officials said 70 roads have been impacted and right now rebuilding them is the top priority.

The cost to make all those repairs is being estimated to be between $12-15 million dollars. That’s money the county and local government just do not have.

“We need federal assistance,” said Bruce Mchpherson, Santa Cruz county Fifth District Supervisor. “The governor has declared a natural disaster for our county as well as 49 others.”

Eshoo said she is doing what she can to speed up the process.

“I’ve written to both FEMA and to the Federal Highway Administration,” said Eshoo. “To put the peddle to the medal because the funds are really critical.”

A lot of paperwork on all the damage needs to get done for the state and local government. Once funding is approved and things dry out, public works can get to work tackling the repairs.

“Just be patient with us,” said John Presleigh, Santa Cruz County Public Works Director. “We’re trying to do the best we can to get these things open, fully open again.”

While out surveying the damage, the subject of President Trump’s threats to cut off federal funding to sanctuary cities, like Santa Cruz, came up. That federal funding is needed to help pay for fixing all the storm damage.

“I think the courts are gonna speak to that,” said Eshoo. “Right now I think the word punishment is not in my dictionary.”

ORIGINAL STORY: “Jawdropping.” That’s how Congresswoman Anna Eschoo described the damage she saw Thursday during a tour of storm ravaged areas in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Eschoo, whose district stretches from Silicon Valley to Santa Cruz County, joined local officials to access the damage caused at Love Creek, Nelson Road, Boulder Creek and other locations.

She told reporters she will press FEMA and the Federal Highway Administration for funding to rebuild lost roadways, culverts and hillsides.

KION reporter Maya Holmes followed the tour today. Tonight, she’ll report on what officials saw.