Action plan approved to improve South Bay flood warnings, response

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A highly detailed emergency action plan, months in the works, has been approved during a joint meeting of the San Jose City Council and the Santa Clara Valley Water District board.

The rollout of the action plan leaves much work to be done, which could require tens of millions of dollars in spending, but the most immediate difference will be new ways to alert residents of impending flood watches and warnings and creating better communications between the city and the water district.

John Varela, President of the Water District Board, says the two bodies will be searching for state and federal funding to help.

As the nine-month mark approaches after the February 2017 Coyote Creek floods that left thousands homeless and did property damage in three San Jose neighborhoods, the city's housing director Jacky Morales-Ferrand says 41 families remain homeless, a total of 126 people.

The city has just completed an application for $5.4 million in state funding to help with housing, job placement, replacement vehicles and other flood-related relief expenses. A total of 228 households are receiving case management services, 187 households or 557 individuals, have returned to permanent housing. 77 people were provided with a car or assisted with car repairs.

ABC7 News also talked to Ray Riordan, Director of San Jose's Office of Emergency Services, and Dave Sykes, the City Manager.

Watch ABC7 News at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. for the full story. Follow David Louie on Twitter for the latest details.