Cleanup, Recovery Begins After Massive South Bay Flooding

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – PHOTOS: Flooded Hellyer County Park and storm-damaged Mount Hamilton Road and Coyote Creek trail.

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Officials in San Jose announced this morning that city staff members are beginning storm recovery and cleanup, and will focus on bringing resources to people affected by recent flooding.

According to city officials, floodwaters along Coyote Creek have started to recede, leading staff in the city's Emergency Operations Center to begin a new recovery and cleanup phase.

Some of the 36,000 victims evacuated by the Coyote Creek flood were able to return to their homes, San Jose city officials said late Wednesday.

While areas under mandatory evacuation have reduced in size, officials said three areas remain under mandatory evacuation because contaminated floodwaters there have not yet receded. The areas of Williams
Street Park, Rock Springs, and Old Oakland Road, all remain under mandatory evacuation.

City officials said that while evacuation centers are now closed, overnight shelters are open for those in need. Evergreen Valley High School, located at 3300 Quimbly Road, is open and reports that the number of people
sheltered there has shrunk from 110 to 10. James Lick High School, located at 57 N. White Road, is also open and sheltering 144 people as of this morning, city officials said.

The city's four winter overnight warming centers are also open to homeless individuals, as they normally are during periods of cold and wet weather. Warming centers include the Tully Community Center located at 880
Tully Road, the Bascom Community Center located at 1000 S. Bascom Ave., Biblioteca Lationamericana located at 921 S. First St., and the Washington United Youth Center located at 921B S. First St.

Free $20 first 2 rides for flood victims: Lyft has sent codes to people affected by the flood. Download the Lyft app. Enter code: SJCHELPNEW for new members. Enter code: SJCHELP for current members.

Those wishing to donate can access the San Jose Flood Victims Relief Fund via the Silicon Valley Community Foundation here or at sjmayor.org here.

RELATED:

• Niles Canyon Road Closed Due to Storm Debris [SEE PHOTOS]
• Mudslide Closes Palomares Road
• Region's Flood Updates: Neighborhoods Under Evacuation Near Coyote Creek; Several East Bay Roads Closed
• 36K+ Evacuate Homes for Coyote Creek Flood in South Bay

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--Bay City News/Images courtesy of SCCounty Parks‏@SCCParks