On August 24, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors reported damages from Tropical Storm Hilary have amounted to over $126 million throughout the county, with the most impact on Coachella Valley.
"This tropical storm was real, our agencies and communities prepared for it and took it seriously, and we pre-positioned equipment and resources in the Coachella Valley," said Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "This is a natural disaster that caused significant damage to the 10 Freeway, to county roadways, and to most of our Coachella Valley cities. We urge all valley cities to report their damages to the Riverside County Emergency Management Department so that we can seek the necessary resources and assistance to help our communities recover. For the safety of drivers and the crews who are out restoring roads, we ask the community to respect the safety guidance and road closures."
As reported by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary has resulted in damages exceeding $126 million, particularly affecting the Coachella Valley. Previously, the storm on February 14, 2019, was the most financially burdensome in Riverside County's history, with damages surpassing $73 million.
As of August 24, the Board's report provides a partial breakdown of the incurred costs: Roads and Bridges account for $82,772,375, Water Control Facilities necessitated $25,783,000, Individual Assistance for Private Property has reached $16,628,417, Debris Removal efforts amount to $6,151,905, and Emergency Protective Measures have incurred expenses of $3,417,077. It's important to note that these figures are preliminary and subject to modification as further damages are identified. Residents and businesses are encouraged to report damages via an online form available at the link here or by calling 211.
"This is truly a devastating disaster," said Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton. "But for all the damage, it's important to note that early on we encouraged residents to prepare. Residents to our warnings seriously and we had no reported loss of life. We have a lot of work to do to recover from Hilary, but minimizing loss of life is what is most important."