Program Helps SoCo Residents 'Disproportionately' Affected By Storms

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Sonoma County is embarking on what it describes as an innovative disaster response and recovery model to assist residents disproportionately affected by the recent storms, the county announced Sunday.

The county has opened Recovery Support Centers as a pilot program "to distribute financial aid and social services to community members who often experience marginalization," a spokesperson for the county said.

These communities include undocumented residents and people who live paycheck to paycheck, the county said.

Sonoma County has been socked with more than 18 inches of rain since late December, which resulted in widespread flooding, power outages, downed trees and property damage. Residents in the Russian River region were under an evacuation warning for seven days.

According to the county, Sonoma County has "not yet triggered" state and federal funding thresholds to directly assist residents, though last week President Joe Biden green lit federal disaster aid for the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed an executive order to expand support for communities impacted by the storms. However, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, federal funds are only available for individuals in Sacramento, Merced and Santa Cruz counties.

Sonoma County will be kicking in $300,000 in emergency funding for the project.

Sonoma County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) will help residents who call 211 to seek assistance through the program.

"The people with the fewest resources suffer the most during difficult times, a fact underscored yet again by the series of storms that have pummeled our county all month," said Supervisor Chris Coursey in a statement released by the county. "The aid distributed through this pilot program will make a meaningful improvement to their immediate well-being and their long-term recovery."

At issue are residents that suffered damage to their homes, loss of work, lack of childcare during school closures and the cost of dealing with power outages, such as purchasing fuel and water or replacing spoiled food.

The county will be using the same intake tool that it used to screen for COVID-19 relief eligibility. Aside from helping those who live in areas most impacted by the storms, the focus will be on undocumented residents and people who work in residential services, agriculture, retail, construction and tourism.

The 211 line will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the county said, and is available in 150 languages. If residents pass the initial screening, they will be directed to the Recovery Support Centers near Guerneville, Healdsburg and the coast.

Partners in the COAD project include Catholic Charities, West County Community Services, River to Coast Children's Services, Nuestra Comunidad and Corazon Healdsburg.

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