New Year, New Flood Scare in Southcrest

New Year’s Day felt like a repeat of the catastrophic floods of 2024 for the residents of Southcrest San Diego. 

Intense rain turned Chollas creek into a river near the Shelltown neighborhood. Water started to creep up Birch and Beta streets, reminiscent of Jan. 22, 2024 when floodwaters consumed whole streets of homes. 

But this time, neighbors were ready. 

They called 911. They called the city of San Diego. Cops came and went. A city worker parked his truck at the scene and told Brenda de la Mora the flooding was just part of nature.

They decided not to wait for more help to come. 

On this particular block, neighbors knew unclogging a small storm drain where Beta and Birch streets meet lowered the flood levels two years ago. 

De la Mora shot video of one neighbor attempting to unclog it with a stick, another with a rake handle. Finally, two neighbors can be seen hoisting the heavy metal grate off the storm drain. 

Almost instantly, the street’s floodwaters begin to swirl downward toward the creek. 

“What bothers me is that it’s been two years and the city hasn’t done anything to make the street better,” said Ramon de la Mora, Brenda’s husband. “Now they have proved that they don’t care.” 

Nicole Darling, a spokesperson with the city of San Diego, cleaned part of Chollas Creek near this area in October and that the city mails thousands of flood education flyers to residents living in flood zones. 

“During storms, City staff actively patrol the Southcrest community to inspect and clear stormdrains,” Darling wrote in a statement. “Water levels in the channel are monitored, and staff are on standby to respond to road closures and provide vactor support.” 

Darling couldn’t immediately say whether city staff were posted at this known troubled drain at Birch and Beta Streets.

Upgrading the storm control infrastructure along Beta Street is listed as a high priority project in the city’s 2026 stormwater budget. 

The De la Moras had to completely remodel their home on Birch Street after the 2024 flood. The couple lived in hotels for a while, then with friends, and eventually in a trailer they purchased which sat in the backyard as their home construction finished. 

Ramon said they weren’t going to move. He had almost paid off the mortgage and trying to purchase another home in San Diego would feel even more like starting over than redoing their entire home. 

Evan Walker, an attorney representing flood victims in a lawsuit against the city of San Diego, said a handful of his clients started calling him to report the floodwaters were back.

“It was reactivating this trauma,” Walker said. “I don’t practice medicine or psychiatry but … it was a cry for help.”

The trial date for some of those cases is set for October, Walker said. 

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