Flooding still big issue for Peninsula mobile home park residents

BELMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- The tide was unusually high across the Bay Area on Monday, and that Is a big concern for residents of a Peninsula mobile home park, which is still waterlogged after heavy rain from earlier this month.

A drain pipe leads back to a contraption of hoses and pumps. It's supposed to trap runoff that residents say rushed in from the other side of the freeway sound wall.

"They just don't maintain none of that stuff," complained Leo Chelossi, one of the residents.

Chelossi has lived at the Belmont Mobile Home Park for 17 years. He says last week's flooding is the worst he's ever seen. His neighbor, Red, who has lived here for 20 years, agrees.

"It was at the top of my highest porch. If someone had walked through it or a car had surged through it, it would have splashed up into my house," said Red.

San Mateo Public Works and Caltrans officials say there are several reasons why the flooding was so bad here. One reason is the buildup of debris over the years along Highway 101.

A Caltrans crew was on sight dredging out the creek that runs right along the freeway's sound wall. Chelossi is worried Monday's high tides might cause another flood because of what he says is a badly maintained drainage system.

"When the water floods, it's supposed to lift open the door. But the door is completely shut and rusted so it doesn't stay open," he said.

PHOTO: A picture of one of the rusted drainage doors

One of those drainage doors spills into Belmont Creek and Redwood Shores Lagoon.

The high tide didn't cause any problems, but at low tide, that the door is rusted shut. Right now, residents are simply trying to clean up from the flood.

Chelossi and his neighbors have been told to inventory all their damaged property.

Meanwhile, some help is on the way for residents who suffered storm related damage. The city opened a relief and recovery services center Monday morning, where people can go and apply for relief money to help cover the cost of damage and cleanup.