News Flash: Flooding in Pájaro

By Sanjoli Gupta

Pájaro, a town in California, started flooding on March 11th. Evacuation centers all over Santa Cruz were set up to help with the outflow of people whose homes had been flooded (Sayre 2023).

Strawberry and other agricultural fields were flooded and houses filled with water. Severe storms with rain and bad weather started in January. Many in the county had to be evacuated when flooding began and the existing inequalities in the region were exacerbated. Mostly low income and minority groups in the Pájaro Valley Region are facing the impacts of flooding (Rust and Vives 2023).

The levee, which had been built back in 1949, was known to need repairs like much of the infrastructure in America, but the issue wasn’t addressed and it became too late with the water breaking through and flooding the community (Rust 2023). 

Expensive rent for housing in the area isn’t making it easier for the climate displaced people (Monroy 2023). 

This serves as a reminder of the dire consequences of not building up our cities and counties, regardless of the income and race of the people in them, to protect from climate disasters that are only growing worse and more common. 

Works Cited: 

Monroy, Josué. “How the Pajaro Flooding Is Impacting California.” Good Times, 21 Mar. 2023, https://www.goodtimes.sc/how-the-pajaro-flooding-is-impacting-california/.

Rust, Susanne, and Ruben Vives. “How a Long History of Racism and Neglect Set the Stage for Pajaro Flooding.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-20/a-long-history-of-racism-set-the-stage-for-pajaro-flooding.

Rust, Susanne. “Before Disastrous Flood, Officials Knew Pajaro River Levee Could Fail but Took No Action.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-12/authorities-knew-the-levee-could-fail.

Sayre, Mark. “Pajaro Flooding Leads to Frustration for Evacuated Residents.” KTVU FOX 2, KTVU FOX 2, 18 Mar. 2023, https://www.ktvu.com/news/pajaro-flooding-one-week-later-frustration-as-residents-dont-know-when-they-can-return

If you have the means and are willing, you can donate at https://www.cfscc.org/funds/disaster-fund