Beba Zárate, a resident of San Diego’s Shelltown neighborhood, was already outside in the rain, clearing debris from the storm drains on her street. It’s a familiar task for Zárate and for many who live in the low-lying community, as the area remains vulnerable to flooding two years after historic storms ravaged the region.
The February 2024 floods caused widespread damage across San Diego County, and Shelltown, situated near Chollas Creek, was particularly hard hit. While the city has been working to address its stormwater infrastructure, residents say progress has been gradual and concerns remain about the potential for future disasters.
“It feels like we’re preparing for the next one, not recovering from the last,” Zárate said, according to a recent report by KPBS. The sentiment reflects a growing frustration among Shelltown residents who feel the city’s response hasn’t adequately addressed the root causes of the flooding.
The city of San Diego is still in the process of repairing and upgrading its stormwater system, a task complicated by the scale of the damage and the need for extensive engineering work. A recent investigation by the San Diego Union-Tribune found that while some improvements have been made, questions persist about whether the fixes are sufficient to protect the city from another major storm event.
Survivors marked the two-year anniversary of the floods with a prayer ceremony, reflecting on the losses they endured and calling for greater action to prevent future disasters. The ceremony, reported by 10News.com, served as a reminder of the lasting emotional and financial toll the floods took on the community.
Many residents express that not enough has changed in the two years since the flooding. Concerns center on the capacity of the existing drainage infrastructure to handle heavy rainfall, as well as the lack of preventative measures to mitigate the risk of future floods. KPBS reported that residents feel their voices are not being heard in the city’s planning process.
The city’s efforts to improve the stormwater system include projects to increase the capacity of drainage channels, repair damaged infrastructure, and implement new flood control measures. However, the timeline for completion of these projects remains uncertain, leaving residents anxious about the upcoming rainy season.
The Shelltown community continues to organize and advocate for improvements to the stormwater infrastructure, working with local organizations and city officials to raise awareness about the ongoing risks. Zárate’s proactive approach to clearing storm drains is a testament to the community’s resilience and determination to protect itself from future flooding.
