Deadline approaching for Planada residents to apply for 2023 flood relief funding

An important deadline is approaching for Planada residents hoping to receive reimbursement from damage occurred during the winter floods of 2023.

Residents have until Saturday, April 20 to apply for the Merced County 2023 Winter Storm Flood Relief Program.

In January, the Merced County Board of Supervisors approved $20 million in state funding to aid the community, which was severely hit by the winter floods in 2023. According to Merced County Assistant Executive Officer Mark Hendrickson, more than 800 homes in Planada were impacted by the floods.

April 20 is the close of a six-week window residents were able to apply for relief funds. The first day residents could apply began on March 11.

As of April 11, 673 applications have been submitted for the Planada Winter Storm Flood Relief Program, according to the Planda20M Facebook page.

One resident application will serve for all categories of assistance, which includes vehicle damage, lost wages/business, housing repair and direct assistance/vehicle. which includes housing assistance, such as moving expenses, temporary lodging expense reimbursement, deposits for new residency.

It also includes help for damaged or destroyed vehicles that had been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles and personal property replacement.

So far there have been 580 requests under the direct assistance/vehicle category, 360 for housing repair, 336 lost wages/business and 102 vehicle damage.

Residents can apply at the Planada Community Center, 9167 Stanford Ave. in Planada, through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The program has a combined maximum of $15,000 per household.

According to the plan, $8 million of the funds will go to home repair and are to be used to aid in repair, remediation or reconstruction of structures that were damaged by the flooding. There is a $4 million budget for direct assistance and $500,000 for business.

To submit an application, residents will need a photo ID, proof of financial need or impact, which could include receipts, documentation of destroyed items and pictures of damages. Residents will also need proof of Planada residency as of Jan. 9, 2023 and social security number or tax identification number, although this will be requested but not required unless applicable to household members.

For more information: Planada Winter Storm Flood Relief Program.

The deadline for all funds to be allocated is Dec. 31, 2025.