Hi my name is Norma, I am a resident of Hidden Glen in Alpine, CA. On behalf of our neighbors in Hidden Glen, I am reaching out for help. Our small, peaceful community has been impacted by our recent January rainstorm. As everyone knows the recent stormrain caused flooding, destruction and damages all across our county. Well, since January 18, this rainstorm caused a significant damage to our road bridge in our Hidden Glen community to the point we can not drive over the bridge because it could collapse completely any minute. The damage has disabled neighbors entry to access their homes in any type of motor vehicle. It has not been easy getting home, specially with kids and groceries at odd hours of the day in the cold and dark evenings. Neighbors have to park their vehicles before the bridge, cross the bridge walking, then make it to our homes walking or use an alternate transportation, for those who have one. The distance from bridge to the farthest residence is about 1/3 of a mile, with a steady incline. This road closure has blocked our Hidden Glen community from the basic services such as getting emergency vehicle access, trash service, all deliveries including packages, propane gas, hay and feed, and essential visits such as medical service providers, special needs school transportation, and landscape employee’s.

Unfortunately for our community, the “county maintained road ends before the bridge access”. A few of us including myself have contacted San Diego County and FEMA and asked for assistance replacing our bridge, and we have been turned away and told that the neighbors are responsible for a non-maintained road. County said they are sorry the destruction to our bridge was caused by the rainstorm, but County can not help regardless if our community is blocked from basic emergency services such as 911 and fire department.

Now that we know we are on our own our neighborhood has had meetings to come up

with a solution to rebuild as quick as possible.

The cost to replace bridge exceeds our budgets. Just to get some material, labor and machinery to replace bridge will cost at least $40,000. This amount is being calculated as bridge rebuild progresses. This financial burden will be divided among the 12 household that are situated past the disabled bridge. This expensive unprecedented event is the reason our Hidden Glen neighbors are coming to the community for help. We need to rebuild our bridge ASAP and get access to our homes. Any small amount is appreciated from all of us in Hidden Glen, Alpine CA community.

Thank you.