Rep. Salud Carbajal toured flood-ravaged homes in Orcutt on Tuesday, offering hugs and handshakes to residents plus pledges of help after getting a look at what he called “sheer devastation.”

Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, joined by Santa Barbara County Supervisors Bob Nelson and Steve Lavagnino along with an aide to Assemblyman Gregg Hart and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, visited several locations in northern Santa Barbara County.

“We’re all working together to try to make this as seamless as possible because everybody’s frustrated, I know,” Carbajal said. “We are doing everything possible to give everybody the comfort that those resources are coming.”

Nelson echoed the thoughts.

“Help is on its way,” Nelson said, noting that neighbors have helped one another since the first night. “It’s really touching to see that.”

Late Tuesday, Carbajal’s office announced President Joe Biden approved an amendment to his major disaster declaration to include Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Tuesday’s itinerary included stops in Tepusquet Canyon and Bonita School Road along with Orcutt and Guadalupe, where neighborhoods flooded and residents were displaced. The tour provided a chance to see and learn about the damage and effects as people scrambled to find temporary homes. 

“But the properties themselves, just absolutely devastated,” Carbajal said. ”I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for families and children being displaced, trying to find a place to go.”

Those displaced have been forced to stay in hotels or find temporary places to rent. 

“It’s incumbent upon us to make those resources available as soon as possible,” Carbajal said. “My message to President Biden is help my constituents as soon as possible, and I think they’re doing that working with all levels of government.”

Cindy Green, whose Parkland Drive home in Orcutt flooded, welcomed the visit. 

“Because it was so localized, I feel like we didn’t get the attention that we need because we need help. We don’t have homes,” Green said. “I hope that either the county, who I believe has responsibility in this situation, or the federal government help us out and help out quickly so we can rebuild.”

Residents believe the failure of overwhelmed stormwater retention basins on the north and south sides of Union Valley Parkway sent water and sand into the neighborhood.

A huge sinkhole remains on Union Valley Parkway as heavy equipment continued working at the site on Tuesday. 

Two homes on Hibiscus Court were knocked off their foundations. Others had flooding with water reaching to the middle of one garage door that sits slightly higher than the street.

“We’re all trying to work together at all levels — federal, state and local — to see what kind of assistance we can get available to homeowners,” Carbajal said. 

Assessments were underway by federal and state government employees as a step needed to trigger the financial help. 

By the end of this week, Carbajal said, the authorizations might be approved so people can apply. 

“Then it becomes incumbent upon all of us to push for that expedited process so that as you submit it, you can get it resolved sooner rather than later,” Carbajal said. 

He reminded those affected by the storm damage to take pictures and save receipts of their expenses.

Additionally, Carbajal stressed the importance that anyone with storm-related damage should contact their City Hall or their county supervisor’s office to include in the assessment of costs. That total will be passed to the state and federal governments to ensure Santa Barbara County gets the right amount of assistance, he added. 

The announcement of the president’s inclusion of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties in the emergency declaration means Central Coast residents and business owners can apply directly for relief.

Applications can be submitted online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Green recalled that she was first alerted to trouble when Annie the service dog began growling, unusual because of her training.

“Annie here was a hero that night. … I looked out the window, and there’s like a raging river in the street,” she said, adding that water began going up her driveway of her Parkland home that sits slightly higher than street level. 

“It’s been tough,” she said, adding that she has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years. 

Like several of their neighbors, the Greens lost both their homes and vehicles. 

“Basically, we have each other. That’s all we got,” Cindy Green said.