Just weeks later, the levee did fail. Widespread flooding forced thousands from their homes in the farming community of Pajaro. KAZU was the first on the scene, and our journalists followed the story throughout 2023. Our coverage held elected officials accountable, followed residents as they struggled to recover, and chronicled the long road towards a new, safer levee system.
Please listen to the audio attached above to hear a highlights reel of our coverage.
Links to stories included in submission:
- Pajaro River communities narrowly avoided disaster in January storms. Next time could be worse
- As the Salinas river swells, more storms are on the way. Pajaro is already underwater
- Gov. Newsom Touts $42 Million in Aid for Flood Victims – Turns Out It’s Months Old COVID Funding
- Pajaro residents grow weary of waiting
- Nearly two weeks after flooding, Pajaro residents return home
- FEMA relief has arrived, but not everyone in Pajaro will qualify
- Despite repairs, a new and safer Pajaro levee is still years away
Jerimiah Oetting