By Gina Yarbrough
Spring Valley, CA– In the wake of the recent storm, the County of San Diego’s Local Assistance Center commenced its operations on Sunday, providing essential in-person support and services for storm-impacted residents.
The assistance center, located at the Spring Valley County Library, offered a comprehensive array of more than 25 agencies aimed at aiding those affected by the January 22 storm. County representatives were on site to answer questions regarding household hazardous waste disposal, replacement of lost EBT cards, enrollment in benefits programs, and obtaining pet supplies.
Aside from these services, the center also provided access to other government resources, including the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Department of Insurance, offering insights into general questions about claims and processes.
Residents were able to obtain canned food and produce from Feeding San Diego, connect with the Red Cross regarding emergency shelter and other resources, and consult with the Air Pollution and Control District on safe debris removal and asbestos information. Residents were urged to fill out an online survey, emphasizing that it would be used solely to gather information to determine the county’s eligibility for state and/or federal assistance.
Anthony Lanatte visited the center Sunday afternoon to gather resources for his elderly mother whose retaining wall fell over her house in Lemon Grove. He also picked up food from Feeding San Diego.
“It’s a blessing. God is good. This is nice to see that everybody out here in the community is coming together. It’s just nice,” Lanatte said.
The center is set to resume its services from Monday through Wednesday at the same location, operating between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
For additional recovery resources and emergency preparedness information, especially with rain in the forecast, residents are encouraged to visit AlertSanDiego.
