People living in Pajaro still recovering after 2023 floods

PAJARO, Calif. (KION-TV)- It has been a full year since the levee on the Pajaro Levee broke which led to the town of Pajaro getting flooded. While it's not visible, the trauma from the flooding lingers for those who lost everything.

David will never forget March 10th, 2023, when his neighborhood in Pajaro was underwater. He says Jonathan Street turned into "Jonathan River." One year later he is still rebuilding some areas on his property.

"Because of the 1995 flood, this property got hit pretty bad and, one of the prerequisites of rebuilding, was to build higher," said David who lives in Pajaro. "So, when the situation happened again, the main, structure didn't get hit, but the landscape area, the shed, things are stored that that got hit,"

In December, Monterey County approved $10 million in state funding to go to people and businesses. Although they have yet to touch that money it couldn't come soon enough.

"The damage is done, but better late than never," said David.

"We'll see once, once the dust settles and all the, you know, the application process is put in place because we'll see what we're gonna output," said Art Veliz, Owner of Santa Rosa Bakery. "And so we don't we don't know the amount yet,"

Some businesses in Pajaro say they fully recovered but not without a lot of work. Santa Rosa Bakery took 11 months and over $200,000 to get back on their feet.

"The whole process of getting everything right back opened up, tearing out walls, replacement of equipment up for profit loss," said Veliz. "Every as you came out, everything was nothing was spared. Refrigerators, freezers, everything," .

Businesses have not received any financial help except loans they'd have to pay back. Which art says is the reason why he is open 1 year later.

"Nobody can say they were ever really prepared until it happens," said Veliz. "So I think the county did a good job of, you know, I cant say they didn't,"

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sent out a statement regarding the long term project surrounding the Pajaro Levee.

“We will be finishing designs for the first reach, which is called reach 6, this spring and plan to award construction this calendar year for that reach. Full designs for the remaining reaches will be ongoing throughout this calendar year. We expect additional construction awards next year in 2025.”

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy District Engineer Tommy Williams said in a statement.

Businesses here in Pajaro tell KION they are planning on holding a Pajaro business day scheduled for later this month. We will have a date and more information on that as soon as it becomes available.