A shelter set up at the Watsonville fairgrounds due to storms

Santa Cruz County, California (cron) — Storms displaced thousands of people from their homes. Some stay at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.

People here say they are grateful that shelters like this exist. Tables were filled with donated clothing as many left without personal items. There are also donated food and cribs installed everywhere for people to sleep.

Hundreds of Pajaro residents temporarily call the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds home. Monterey County Superintendent Luis Alejo said it was past midnight in the early hours of Saturday morning that he learned he had to evacuate.

“We got word that the dike had broken and the water would reach Pajaro in about three hours,” Alejo said.

Alejo said many people left with almost nothing and could not return because the area was completely barricaded. Andres Garcia says he and his family were evacuated at around 1:30 am.

“It’s hard. You never know what’s going to happen next and you have to leave everything behind.”

He says it was hard for his daughters to leave home.

“It’s hard for them to understand what’s going on. So we have to stay calm,” Garcia said.

Garcia says he appreciates everything the community has to offer, including the Red Cross, which volunteers to staff the shelter. He says his family needs help.

“I’ll probably be unemployed for a month or so,” he said.

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County supervisors say many of these people will be unemployed in the near future.

“Many of these families are farmers and their fields are flooded, damaging not only our food supply but also their jobs. They will be out of work for a long time.”

County supervisors say the shelter will remain open for as long as needed and are also considering opening another shelter as capacity is expected to be reached here in the next few days. .