San Jose flood victims mark one-year anniversary since disaster

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ByMatt Keller KGO logo
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
San Jose flood victims mark one-year anniversary since disaster
San Jose flood victims are marking the one-year anniversary Wednesday since the Coyote Creek disaster, which left thousands of residents displaced.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose flood victims are marking the one-year anniversary Wednesday since the Coyote Creek disaster, which left thousands of residents displaced.

So much was damaged during the flood, but signs in the Rocksprings neighborhood are coming back.

RELATED: Recovery slow for San Jose's flood victims

Many remember the images from that day such as rescue boats getting people out to safety. In the end, 14,000 people were displaced in San Jose.

After the flood, $6.8-million was raised for flood assistance.

RELATED: Army Corps of Engineers to help assess Coyote Creek for future flood prevention

Parents and neighbors of Shirakawa School established a donation center and raised $30,000 for gift cards. Nearly 100 families at the school were flood victims. "Within 2.5 days, everything was put into play, reaching out to all our extended community areas and having people step up immediately," Shirakawa school principal Yvonne Sugimura said.

Unfortunately, so much more was needed. Food losses have been estimated at $73 million, 10 times more than what public donations raised.

RELATED: SJ's Coyote Creek flood victims seek millions in lawsuit

At least 150 residents are suing the city, the county and the water district.

On Wednesday morning, some city and county leaders will be in the neighborhood to talk about the flooding that happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future.

Click here for more stories related to flooding.

PHOTOS: Flood waters rip through San Jose, causing damage, evacuations

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Sky7 shows a car immersed in floodwater on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 (left) and again on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 (right), when floodwaters receded in San Jose, Calif.
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