Residents of Shelltown and Southcrest marched through the streets near Southcrest Trails Park at Birch Street and Beta Street on Saturday, demanding accountability and renewed attention from the city of San Diego. The rally was organized by Southcrest Flood Survivors and Shelltown Resilience.
Marisa Aguayo with Shelltown Resilience said that the groups were born out of necessity in the wake of the floods.
“We quickly realized that no one was coming to help us,” said Aguayo. “We’ve also been doing toy drives, Easter drives, finding resources for the community. So we remain connected and we hope to continue to support each other,” Aguayo added.
Aguayo’s family homes on 38th and Beta Street were destroyed when floodwaters surged through the neighborhood on January 22, 2024. She recalled stepping outside to find water up to her waist. In the months that followed, her family was forced to gut their home—removing walls, flooring, and nearly everything inside—before they could even begin repairs.
Despite the damage, Aguayo said the city has provided no direct financial support to affected homeowners.
“Not a dime from the city,” she said. “After the storm, all that the city has given us is empty sandbags. So empty promises—there’s nothing there for us.”
In February, the San Diego City Council approved $6.3 million in settlements to more than a dozen insurance companies that had sued the city to recover payouts made after the floods. Residents say that while insurers are being reimbursed, the people who lost their homes have been left behind.
Some neighbors acknowledge that the county and state have offered various forms of assistance, but they argue the city has not met its responsibility to help residents recover.
Lawsuits filed on behalf of flood victims are moving forward, with a court date set for October. Domenic Martini, an attorney representing some of the plaintiffs, told NBC 7 back in February that the city could ultimately be liable for millions of dollars, though the final amount remains uncertain. Aguayo and other residents say they want the city to settle quickly.
“We demand speedy settlements. We demand recovery. We deserve that. There’s no reason why we should be begging for protection, for recovery, so we are demanding justice. We are demanding fair settlements and urgency,” Aguayo said.
NBC 7 reached out to the office of City Councilmember Vivian Moreno, who represents District 8, including Shelltown and Southcrest, for comment on Saturday’s demonstration. We did not hear back in time for this report.