Congressman Raul Ruiz takes aerial tour of storm damage across the valley
Congressman Raul Ruiz took a valley-wide aerial tour to assess the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary.
California Highway Patrol conducted the tour over heavily-affected areas like the I-10 and Bob Hope, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Coachella, Mecca, Desert Shores, and Salton City.
Congressman Ruiz said the damage was, "...worse than he anticipated."
“Clearly, our infrastructure needs repair. This isn't going to be an easy and quick fix," said Congressman Ruiz.
Congressman Ruiz was assessing the damage in order to tally how much damage there was in the Coachella Valley. If the damages reach $70 million in Southern California, the region may be eligible for a Major Disaster Declaration so those affected by the storm can get access to resources.
The Major Disaster Declaration would give Southern California residents access to the following resources:
- Housing Programs
- Crisis Counseling
- Disaster Case Management
- Unemployment Assistance
- Legal Services
- Nutrition Services
The Declaration would also help address damaged infrastructure such as roads and bridges across the valley.
To help assess the local damage done by Tropical Storm Hilary, you can contact the Riverside County Emergency Management Department or RivCo Ready to report any damage to your home or small business.
News Channel 3's Peter Daut also conducted an in-depth interview with Congressman Ruiz upon his return from the tour.
