Officials in National City are working to clear out storm drainage areas ahead of predicted El Niño storms, Documenter Jennifer Hua reports. Staff say this effort includes removing debris and relocating homeless residents.
“We have unhoused encampments throughout our stormwater system,” said Martha Juarez, the city’s engineering and public works director. “We need that space to be cleared for the water to flow through.”
The Housing Authority and the city’s Community Development and Police departments are ramping up outreach to homeless encampments located in drainage channels and flood hazard areas — facilitating shelter placements and transportation away from the areas.
More information on the city’s homeless encampment response plan can be found here. National City preparations for El Niño are posted to this city webpage.
— Written by Brisa Karow, Documenter and freelance reporter