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The Grantville Station Business Park on Mission Gorge Road is located right next to a section of the San Diego River. After Monday’s flooding, water breached the concrete fence and caused major damage to all the shops in the park.
Like many businesses in San Diego County, these businesses do not have flood insurance to cover their losses.
why is it important
California Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner Michael Soler said such flooding is becoming more common.
“Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events. Communities are experiencing flooding like never before. Unfortunately, homeowners and businesses may want to know that their insurance does not cover flooding. It’s not now. But it’s a problem. A lot of people know it,” Soler said.
Dan Romeo, owner of TRVLR Coffee Roasters and One Season Brewing, says his business hasn’t really recovered from the pandemic and was actually in the process of selling some of his assets.
“But now they are worthless. Everything here has just been destroyed,” said Romeo. “I’m just putting the pieces together and trying to salvage whatever I can over the next few weeks. I don’t have flood insurance, so this is all just a huge loss.”
Romeo says he has to close the store because he doesn’t have the money to repair it.
Native Poppy is one of the businesses in the park, and its founder Natalie Gill said her warehouse looked like an aquarium.
“When I opened the door, it was like a rush of water and all the goods and gifts and supplies were rushing right in front of me,” Gill said. “The whole warehouse was filled with three feet of water. You can see waist-high lines of water all over the place.”
The first person Gill called was an insurance broker.
“I was panicking. He said, well, if I didn’t have flood insurance, even if I had flood insurance, it wouldn’t necessarily cover everything,” Gill said. . “I think this has been a disaster for so many San Diegans right now. I don’t think anyone knows what to do.”
In terms of numbers
Gil and Romeo each estimate the damage at least $100,000. And his native Poppy is still recovering from an accident a year and a half ago when a car crashed into one of his flower shops.
“For some reason, this feels different. This feels sadder, heavier,” Gill said.
look carefully
The Insurance Information Institute recommends reporting claims to San Diego County. The county is collecting damage assessment surveys to assess the extent of the damage and seek assistance from the state and federal governments. The survey can be accessed here.
Looking to the future
Congressman Juan Vargas released the following statement to KPBS:
“I witnessed the extensive damage caused by the recent storms. Only 8,128 of San Diego County’s 1.15 million households have flood insurance, and many in the 52nd Congressional District. households may face significant difficulties in compensating for their losses,” Vargas said. “We must use all available tools to respond to this emergency, which is why my office is in communication with FEMA and the White House about possible federal assistance for affected residents. I took it.”
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