>>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR KPBS EVENING EDITION HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING.

THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES.

FIND OUT MORE BY VISITING BILLHOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS FOUNDATION, DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY, AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>>> HOMELESSNESS IN SAN DIEGO IS HEADED IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE LATEST REPORT FROM THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS ONCE AGAIN SHOWS MORE PEOPLE BECAME HOMELESS LAST MONTH AND GOT OUT OF IT.

THERE IS A TREND SOME ADVOCATES ARE FINDING HOPEFUL.>> IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE MORE PEOPLE STARTED EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS HAVE FOUND HOUSING.

137 PEOPLE BECAME HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHILE 1226 WERE HOUSED, A DIFFERENCE OF 111 PEOPLE.

THE REGIONAL TASK FORCE ON HOMELESSNESS CEO SENT US A STATEMENT SAYING THIS SOBERING ANNIVERSARY REVEALS THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF HIGH HOUSING COSTS AND LOW HOUSING STOCK.

THE STATEMENT CALLS FOR ABUNDANT HOUSING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL INCOME LEVELS, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, AND QUICKLY ENDING HOMELESSNESS IF THEY EXPERIENCE IT.

KOHLER WASN'T AVAILABLE TO TALK WITH US ON CAMERA.

SHE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH CONGRESS ON THIS VERY ISSUE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THIS WEEK.

TODD GLORIA HAS ALSO BEEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HIS OFFICE SAID THIS.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BECOMING HOMELESS LARGELY PART OF THE HOUSING AFFORD ABILITY CRISIS.

2023 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR HOUSING, WITH 83% MORE NEW HOUSING PERMITS ISSUED IN THE LAST YEAR OVER 2022, OVER A QUARTER OF THOSE FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.>> WHEN WE SEE THE DATA, WHERE REALLY SURPRISES ME IS LAST MONTH.

>> HE SAYS IT'S MORE USEFUL TO LOOK AT TRENDS MORE RATHER THAN JUST ONE MONTH'S NUMBERS.

>> IT SHOWS US THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.

WE ARE WORKING WITH PROVIDERS, CITIES AND COUNTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A ROBUST NETWORK OF CARE.

>> NUMBERS FROM THE TASK FORCE TO SHOW AN OVERALL POSITIVE TREND.

IN DECEMBER, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THOSE FINDING HOUSING WAS 412.

IT CREPT UP A BIT IN JANUARY, BUT FELL DRAMATICALLY IN FEBRUARY, AND THEN LAST MONTH AS WELL, TO A DIFFERENCE OF JUST 111.

WHILE THE CITY REMOVES PEOPLE FROM THE STREETS, THE FOCUS MUST ALSO BE ON VENTING THEM FROM BEING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> I THINK FOCUSING ON PREVENTION, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, AND ALSO INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT IS THE FRONT END AND THE BACK ENDS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.>> THE PROPOSED 1000 PERSON SHELTER WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE CITY LAND-USE AND HOUSING COMMITTEE TOMORROW, BUT IT WAS PULLED FROM THE AGENDA.

THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT NEEDS MORE TIME TO WORK ON RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET ANALYST, WHO IS DOING A DEEP DIVE ON THE DEAL.

THE DEAL, WHEN IT COMES TOGETHER, WILL BE ONE MORE STEP ON THE LONG ROAD TO SOLVE THE DIFFICULT AND VEXING PROBLEM OF PEOPLE NOT HAVING ANYWHERE TO LIVE.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>>> YOU WILL NOTICE TONIGHT THOSE CLOUDS WILL START TO BUILD.

WE HAVE SOME WEAKER ENERGY ALONG THE COAST, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THOSE CLOUDS BUILDING, I'M NOT GOING TO RULE OUT SOME FOGGY AREAS LATE AT NIGHT AND INTO EARLY TOMORROW.

HEADS UP, YOU MAY RUN INTO SOME TRICKY TRAVEL.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO A LOW OF 54.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU ON THE FORECAST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, STAY WITH US.

>>> IF YOU ARE HOPING INTEREST RATES WOULD BE COMING DOWN SOON, YOU MIGHT BE OUT OF LUCK.

JENN SULLIVAN BREAKS DOWN WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE ECONOMY, AND BORROWERS.>> IT APPEARS INTEREST RATES WON'T BE COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON.

FOR MONTHS, RESERVE OFFICIALS HAD SAID THEY NEED CONVINCING DATA.>> WE NEED GREATER CONFIDENCE THAT INFLATION IS MOVING SUSTAINABLY TOWARD 2%.>> BUT INFLATION ISN'T NEAR 2%.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA FROM THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS RELEASED LAST WEEK, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ROSE THREE AND HALF PERCENT LAST YEAR.

THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS PRICES FOR A VARIETY OF CATEGORIES HAVE GONE UP IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, EVERYTHING FROM CAR INSURANCE, TO BABY FOOD, TO RENT.

RECENT DATA DID NOT GIVE US CONFIDENCE, AND INSTEAD IT WILL TAKE LONGER FOR US TO ACHIEVE CONFIDENCE.>> THE AVERAGE FIXED MORTGAGE RATE JUMPS TO 6.88% IN THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 11, OF FROM 6.2% THE PREVIOUS WEEK.

ALL THAT MEANS HIGHER COSTS PER HOUSEHOLD.

CONSUMERS HAVE LESS MONEY TO PUT INTO THE ECONOMY.

FOR CONSUMER WATCH, I'M JENN SULLIVAN.

>>> A WEEK OF CALL FOR THE COUNTY.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD EXECUTIVE OFFICER SPOKE WITH US, THEY WANTED COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE BOARDS NEXT LEADER.>> THIS CAME AS A BIG SURPRISE, PAUL PARKER WAS SO VALUED, AND SO EFFECTIVE.>> HE SAYS PARKER'S RESIGNATION FROM THE CITIZENS LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEW BOARD WAS A BIG LOSS.

>> THEY HAD HUGE AMOUNTS OF TALENT.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKED, AND THE WAY IT COULD BE IMPROVED, AND THEY WERE HEADING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.

>> PARKER RESIGNED ON MARCH 11.

HE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR MORE OVERSIGHT ON CUSTODY DEATHS IN COUNTY JAILS.

ACCORDING TO COUNTY RECORDS, SAN DIEGO HAS RECOMMENDED A HIGH NUMBER OF DEATHS WHILE IN CUSTODY, FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

THE STATE AUDITOR RECOMMENDED SEDATE OVERSIGHT.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR DEATHS IN CUSTODY.

>> THE FACT THAT HE WAS THAT FRUSTRATED ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RESISTANCE TO SYSTEMIC LEVEL CHANGE, WE WERE REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT HE LEFT.

>> PARKER HAD PUSHED FOR THE PREVENTION OF DRUG SMUGGLING AND OVERDOSES.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS RESISTED THE CHANGES DESPITE SIMILAR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STATE AUDITOR AND COUNTY GRAND JURY.

>> THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

>> PARKER WANTS THE COUNTY TO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY SELECTION COMMITTEE, AND FOR THE COUNTY TO SELECT SOMEONE WHO WILL VIGOROUSLY CARRY THIS WORK FORWARD.

>> I THINK THE KEY THINGS THEY NEED TO GET IS SOMEBODY WITH LEADERSHIP ABILITY THAT CAN LOOK AT THAT SYSTEM STRATEGICALLY, AND HELP FOCUS ON WHAT SYSTEM CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE IN THE JAILS, NOT JUST MINOR PROCEDURAL CHANGES.

HE SENT A LETTER ON TUESDAY EVENING, SIGNED BY A COALITION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OUTLINING DIFFERENT CONCERNS.

SO FAR, HE HAS NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY FOR COMMENTS, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE BY AIRTIME.>>> DUAL CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS REVEALED SHOCKING LAPSES OF SAFETY CONTROLS AT BOEING.>> BOEING FEELING THE PRESSURE AS CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES TESTIFIED BEFORE A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT THE HEARING CALLED A BROKEN SAFETY CULTURE AT THE COMPANY.

>> THIS IS A CRIMINAL COVER- UP.>> A QUALITY ENGINEER FOR BOEING SAYS WHEN ASSEMBLING THE FUSELAGE, GAPS BETWEEN PIECES WERE LEFT TO LIVE, CREATING STRESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PERCEIVED FATIGUE AND FAILURE OVER TIME.

>> I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I HAVE RAISED THESE ISSUES OVER THREE YEARS.

I WAS TOLD NOT TO CREATE DELAYS, I WAS TOLD FRANKLY TO SHUT UP.>> INSPECTIONS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE AND PARTS OF THE PLANE FACING QUESTIONS.

THE COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT READING IN PART WE ARE FULLY CONFIDENT THE STREAMLINER AND THESE CLAIMS ARE INACCURATE, AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE COMPREHENSIVE WORK THAT BOEING HAS DONE TO ENSURE THE QUALITY AND LONG- TERM SAFETY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

BOEING HAS FACED MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OF QUESTIONS OVER COMMERCIAL DEBTS, FOLLOWING THE CRASHES OF THE 737 MAX.

JANUARY'S DOOR PLUG BLOWOUT ADDED TO THE PRESSURE.

IN AN EARLIER HEARING, A PANEL OF EXPERTS INFORMED CONGRESS OF A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAD MADE TO THE FAA FOR HOW TO FIX THE ISSUES AT BOEING.

>> THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ENVIRONMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.

YOU NEED TO LEARN FROM THAT, COMMUNICATE IT, AND PASS IT ON.>>> TONIGHT, ON THE NEWSHOUR, THE HOUSE SPEAKER ATTEMPTS TO PASS A CRITICAL FOREIGN AID PACKAGE, AND THE SENATE VOTES TO DISMISS THE IMPEACHMENT CASE AGAINST THE HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY.>>> THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE IS WARNING OF A RISE IN ANTI- SEMITIC HATE, REACHING A NEW HIGH.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A SIMILAR RISE IN ISLAM A PHOBIC INCIDENCE.

BRIAN TODD REPORTS ON THE ALARMING TREND.>> OUTSIDE A SYNAGOGUE, A MAN IS ARRESTED FOR ATTACKING ONE CONTENT.

>> HE WAS SAYING GAS THE , AND HE WAS SPRAYING A FOUL SMELLING GAS.

>> IT'S ONE OF A SPIKE OF INCIDENTS IN THE LAST YEAR, FOUND OUT IN A NEW AUDIT.

THEY CHECKED 8873 ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN 2023, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S RECORD OF NEARLY 3700.>> WE HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, KEEPING IN MIND THAT FOUR OUT OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBERS HAVE REACHED RECORD HIGHS, YET IN 2023, WE BLEW AWAY ALL PREVIOUS TALLIES.>> THE NUMBERS JUMPED DRAMATICALLY IN OCTOBER, WHICH IS WHEN THE WAR BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL BEGAN.

AMERICA HAS SEEN A DISTURBING SPIKE IN ISLAM A PHOBIC INCIDENCE AS WELL.

THE COUNCIL ON AS LONG AS RELATIONSHIPS SAY HOW ATTACKS HAVE SKYROCKETED SINCE THE ISRAEL AND HAMAS WERE HAS STARTED.>> AT EVERY CARE OFFICE, WE ARE SEEING A SPIKE OF THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE NUMBER OF HATE INCIDENTS.>> THE TENSION OFTEN PESTERING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THEY CANCELED THE SPEECH OF A MUSLIM WHO HOLDS PRO- PALESTINIAN VIEWS.

THEY SAY THE DECISION WAS RELATED TO SECURITY RISKS, WHICH THEY DID NOT SPECIFY.

AND ONE POSTED ABOUT - - IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN, SHE SAID THE UNIVERSITY TAUGHT HER TO STAND UP FOR HER BELIEFS.

>> I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK IT IS INFLAMMATORY, AND A STANDBY HUMAN RIGHTS, I WILL CONTINUE TO, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I WILL APOLOGIZE FOR.

IN RECENT MONTHS, TOP UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF ALLOWING FREE SPEECH TO CROSS OVER INTO HATE SPEECH.

IT HAS LED TO THE RESIGNATIONS OF SCHOOL PRESIDENTS AT PLACES LIKE HARVARD AND KENT.>> WE HAVE THAT ARE PART OF THE TIME COMING TO ANY MIDDLE GROUND ON ANY ISSUE, I THINK A LOT OF THIS ISSUE COMES FROM PEOPLE BELIEVING THAT ONLY THEIR SITE HAS A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE, ONLY THEIR SIDE HAS ANYTHING TO OFFER.>> BRIAN TODD, WITH THAT REPORT.

UC SAN DIEGO AND OTHER COLLEGES RECEIVED POOR GRADES FROM THE STATE OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON CAMPUS.

THEY CREATED 85 SCHOOLS BASED ON POLICIES, ACTIONS, AND INCIDENTS ON CAMPUS.

IT LOOKS AT THE TOP NATIONAL AND LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS COLLEGES WITH THE LARGEST JEWISH RELATIONS.

UCSD EARNED A D GRADE, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.

>>> THE FDA AND COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT A NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK IN SAN DIEGO.

11 CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE CASES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO FROZEN OYSTERS IMPORTED FROM SOUTH KOREA, SERVED AT A SEAFOOD GRILL BETWEEN MARCH 31 AND APRIL 30 FIRST.

ONE PERSON WHO HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM SPOKE TO OUR MEDIA PARTNER.>> I WAS SO DEHYDRATED, I COULDN'T SWALLOW MY OWN SALIVA.

I EAT OUT REGULARLY, SO I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS.

>> RESTAURANTS AND STORES ARE BEING CAUTIONED TO CHECK THEIR FREEZERS.

THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY OTHER POTENTIAL RETAILERS.

>>> IT IS BEING CALLED A HUGE BREAKTHROUGH BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS, LAST WEEK THE NATIONAL STANDARD WAS SET TO LIMIT FOREVER CHEMICALS, FOUND IN HALF OF U.S.

DRINKING WATER.

MANDY EXPLAINS HOW TO LESSER EXPOSURE.

SO THEY CAN FAT - - THEY CAN BE FOUND IN MAKEUP, SUNSCREEN, EVEN PIZZA BOXES.

POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS.

>> THESE SUBSTANCES ARE KNOWN AS FOREVER CHEMICALS.>> THEY ARE ALSO CALLED P FAS CHEMICALS.

THEY ARE FOUND IN PRODUCTS THAT ARE NONSTICK AND SCRATCH RESISTANT.

THEY ARE CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN EASILY.

WHAT MAKES THEM DURABLE ALSO MAKES THEM HARD TO GET RID OF.

THE CDC SAYS NEARLY 97% OF ALL AMERICANS HAVE THESE CHEMICALS IN THEIR BLOOD, AND THEY ARE LINKED TO A VARIETY OF HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING CANCER, KIDNEY, AND LIVER DAMAGE, AND OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PEOPLE WITH PROLONGED EXPOSURE, BUT YOU CAN LESSEN YOUR EXPOSURE.>> YOU CAN AVOID WATER RESISTANT CONTAINERS, REMOVE YOUR FOOD FROM TAKE-OUT CONTAINERS BEFORE REHEATING.

STEER CLEAR OF NONSTICK COOKWARE.

CLEAN YOUR WATER WITH REVERSE OFF SAMOSAS, IF POSSIBLE.>> WATER UTILITIES WILL HAVE TO FILTER OUT FIVE TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL FOREVER CHEMICALS.

THERE'S ALSO A LIMIT FOR MIXTURES OF ANY TWO OR MORE OF THESE CHEMICALS.>>> THERE IS PROGRESS ON A BILL THAT WOULD UPDATE THE PLASTIC BAG BAN.

IT WAS APPROVED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE TODAY, IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE USE OF THICKER REUSABLE PLASTIC BAGS COME MANY STORE SWITCH TO THOSE AFTER THE ORIGINAL BAG BAN WAS PASSED.

THE NEWER BAGS TYPICALLY END UP IN LANDFILLS, INSTEAD OF BEING RECYCLED.

THE BILL NEEDS TO PASS ANOTHER COMMITTEE BEFORE A FULL VOTE BY THE STATE SENATE.

>>> I WANT TO START YOU OFF WITH THE WEATHER HEADLINES, JUST TO GET A FEEL ON WHAT IS ON TAP FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.

IT'S GOING TO TURN QUITE BREEZY IN THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRACK THE WIND, AS WELL AS THOSE LITTLE CLOUDS AND THAT FOG.

THAT IS GOING TO START TO BUILD LATE TONIGHT, AND IT WILL LAST THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ESPECIALLY EARLY INTO THE MORNING, SPREADING INTO THE VALLEYS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

AS HE HEADED INTO THE WEEKEND, YOU WILL NOTE WE ARE A LITTLE WARMER, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EXTREMELY WARMER, BUT YOU WILL NOTE A SLIGHT TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE.

51 IN OCEANSIDE, SAN DIEGO IS 54, FURTHER EAST, RAMONA IS DOWN TO THE 40s, BORREGO SPRINGS IN THE LOW 60s, MOUNT LAGUNA DOWN TO 50.

AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, YOU WILL NOTICE THE TEMPERATURES ARE NOT TOO SHABBY HERE.

UPPER 60s ALONG THE COAST, 70s FOR THE INLAND VALLEYS.

TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS, 60, NOT A BAD DAY FOR YOU, EVEN BORREGO SPRINGS AT A HIGH OF 92.

WE DO HAVE SOMETHING BREWING HERE ACROSS SOUTHWEST SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BRING A LOT OF MOISTURE, BUT I WOULDN'T RULE OUT A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO.

IT WILL BE FELT WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE CLOUDS ON THURSDAY, FRIDAY, EVEN ALONG THE COAST, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOW CLOUDS THAT COULD CAUSE SOME TRICKY TRAVEL FOR YOU.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, WE WILL SEE A SLIGHT BOOST IN TEMPERATURES, EASING AND EVEN AS WE GET INTO SUNDAY, WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

BY MONDAY, WE ARE DOWN TO 66.

FURTHER INLAND YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A WARM-UP, STILL, THOSE LOW CLOUDS WILL STICK AROUND FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE BACK OF THE WEEKEND, WE ARE BACK UP TO 77, STAYING AT 75 AS WE HEAD INTO MONDAY.

FOR THE MOUNTAINS, WHILE YOU ARE AT 60 ON THURSDAY, WE ARE TALKING 50s, EVEN AS WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

AT LEAST YOU WILL HAVE SOME SUNSHINE, THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS.

FOR THE DESERT, YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO SEE MANY CHANGES WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, STAYING RELATIVELY STEADY.

OVERALL, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME SUNSHINE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.>>> APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD, AND IT'S A SPECIAL TIME FOR HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

TODAY, FAMILIES WERE INVITED FOR A SPECIAL LUNCH FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE IN SERVICE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> THEY KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY KNOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIPS, THE TROUBLES, THE TRIALS, AND HONESTLY THE GOOD TIMES.>> ACCORDING TO THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION MILITARY CHILDREN FACE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARENTS SERVICE.>>> SHALL TOWN RESIDENTS ARE STILL IN LIMBO AFTER THE FLOODS.

THE TRAGEDY KNIT THEM TOGETHER, AND BECAME A CALLING FOR A VOLUNTEER FROM OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IN A CRAMPED KITCHEN, SHE COOKS CHICKEN AND PORK, RICE AND BEANS, POTATOES AND CARROTS, 50 POUNDS OF IT.

SHE LIVES IN EL CAJON.

SHE BEGAN BRINGING HOT MEALS TO SHALL TOWN WEEKS AFTER THE JANUARY FLOOD DEVASTATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST NORTH OF NATIONAL CITY.

LIKE MANY IN THE COUNTY, SHE WAS REMOVED FROM THE IMPACT OF THE FLOOD.>> I KNEW IT HAD RAINED, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW OF THE DAMAGE, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE TO WATCH THE NEWS.>> SHE STARTED TO SEE IMAGES OF THE DESTRUCTION ON FACEBOOK.

SHE IS A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE, SHE COOKS FOR MULTIPLE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SHE RUNS, BUT SHE FELT COMPELLED TO HELP.>> I JUST STARTED TO PRAY, HOW CAN I BE USED?>> HER FIRST TRIP BROUGHT NEW REALITY TO THE IMAGES.>> I CRIED WHEN I GOT THERE.

I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE DEVASTATION.>> SHE COULDN'T FIX EVERYTHING SHE WAS SEEING, BUT FOR HER, A HOT MEAL WAS FAMILY.

>> I TRIED TO CELEBRATE WITH PEOPLE, EVEN IN THE DARKEST TIMES.

FOOD DOES THAT FOR US.

>> MANY SHALL TOWN RESIDENTS STILL DON'T HAVE WORKING KITCHENS, NO STOVES OR SINKS.

THEY IMPROVISE WITH PORTABLE COOKTOPS AND MICROWAVES.>> THEY HAD GONE THROUGH A DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT, EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE IS IN LIMBO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A HOT MEAL AT HOME, THEY CAN'T PREPARE A HOT MEAL AND SIT AT THE TABLE WITH THE FAMILY.>> SHE STARTED WORKING WITH AN ORGANIZATION TO COOK HOT MEALS FOR HER NEIGHBORS.

SHE GOT WITH A MEAL DISTRIBUTOR, AND NOW SHE SETS THE TABLE FOR SHALL TOWN NEIGHBORS.

THEY GATHER LIKE FAMILY.

THE DISASTER FEELS MORE RECENT THAN THREE MONTHS AGO.

SANDBAGS STILL PILE ON THE SIDEWALK.

A LARGE DUMPSTER SITS IN THE STREETS.

TO SHOW HOW HIGH IT FLOODED ON JANUARY 22, SHE POINTS SEVERAL FEET OF HER WALL.>> EVERYTHING WAS DARK.

THERE WAS MUD AND TRASH ALL OVER.

IT WAS LIKE A NIGHTMARE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING.>> THEIR HOUSE IS MOSTLY EMPTY OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS, ALL LOST TO THE FLOOD.

DONATIONS ARE PILED TO THE CARPORT CEILING.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DECLARED A MAJOR DISASTER ONE MONTH AFTER THE FLOOD.

THERE ARE TWO DAYS LEFT TO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE.

UP TO $42.5 THOUSAND PER HOUSEHOLD, FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, REPAIRS, AND PROPERTY LOSS.

THERE ARE CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS.

FEMA HAS HELPLINE OPERATORS, BUT IT CAN BE HARD FOR SOME NEIGHBORS TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS.

SHE'S LIVED IN THIS HOUSE FOR 25 YEARS.

THE STREET IT IS ON NEXT TO A FREEWAY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SHE SAYS IT USED TO BE FILLED WITH TRAFFIC AND CHILDREN.

>> NOW IT IS AN EMPTY STREET, LIKE A GHOST STREETS.

>> MANY FAMILIES LOST THEIR HOMES ENTIRELY.

THE COUNTY MOVED THEM INTO HOTELS.>> IT WAS SCARY, NOT HAVING THOSE SMILES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.>> THE NEWS CYCLE HAS LARGELY MOVED ON, BUT IT'S NOT SO EASY FOR THE RESIDENCE.>> THIS IS A LONG RECOVERY PROCESS.

THE RESPONSE WAS TO COVER THE BASIC NEEDS, BUT NOW THIS IS A REALITY, YOU HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING USED TO HAVE TWO LIVE, TO SURVIVE.

NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH OURSELVES, BUT ALSO WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> THE WATER HAS DRIED, BUT SHE SAYS IT LEFT BEHIND PTSD.

SHE EXPLAINS HOW IT FEELS.>> IT IS LIKE YOUR EMOTIONS ARE NUMB.

THIS IS HOW WE ARE FEELING.

WE ARE TRYING, BUT IT'S REALLY HARD.>> SHE ALSO NOTICED HER NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGED FOR GOOD.>> THE BEAUTIFUL THING OF THIS IS THAT WE BECOME LIKE A FAMILY, HOLDING HANDS, AND WE SAY WE ARE TOGETHER IN THIS.

IT IS SO LOVING TO SEE A SURVIVOR THAT IS COOKING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TO SAY THIS IS WHAT I HAVE, AND I SHARE WITH YOU, AND I SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE TRAGEDY UPENDED DAILY ROUTINES, BUT SHE SEES A GIFT IN THAT.>> IT'S DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

WE VALUE LIFE, WE VALUE THE SENSE OF HOW TO BE ALIVE.

IT IS A GIFT TO BE ALIVE.>> WITNESSING THOSE LIVES IS THE GIFTS SHE SAYS SHE BRINGS TO HER NEIGHBORS.

>> SHE SAID I DON'T WANT NOBODY TO FORGET ABOUT US.

I SAID DON'T WORRY, THEY WON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU.>> SHE'S JUST ONE OF MORE THAN 1000 FLOOD VICTIMS STILL FIGURING OUT HOW TO SURVIVE.

>> WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY.

>>> YOU CAN FIND TONIGHT STORIES ON OUR WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND GOOD NIGHT.

[ MUSIC ] >> FUNDING HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE BILL HOWE FAMILY OF COMPANIES, FLOOD AND REMODELING SERVICES FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

CALL, OR VISIT BILLHOWE.COM.

AND BY THE CONRAD PREBYS.

DARLENE MARCOS SHILEY.

AND BY THE FOLLOWING.

AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

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