Santa Ana Man Asks Public for Aid to Tijuana Victims

As the rain continues to fall, Orange County relief agencies and community organizers are gearing up to help some of the storm’s victims in Tijuana, where mudslides and floods have killed several people and left hundreds homeless.

Sergio Velazquez, editor of Miniondas newspaper in Santa Ana, appealed Thursday for contributions of food and clothing to help a relief effort that he is organizing. Velazquez said he was planning a trip to Tijuana today to deliver supplies.

He also is coordinating with other agencies throughout the Southland to prepare a major delivery, possibly by this weekend.

“Thousands of families don’t have a home, and it’s still raining,” Velazquez said late Thursday. “This is very serious. That’s why we are working so hard right now.”

At least 14 people are believed to have been killed and hundreds made homeless in Tijuana by Thursday’s heavy rains. The areas hardest hit were slums with unpaved roads and rickety homes, many perched on steep slopes.

Velazquez said he is seeking donations of canned food, gallon jugs of water, clothing and shoes. He said the contributions can be delivered to the Miniondas office at 1742 S. Main St. in Santa Ana. He said the newspaper will also take calls from prospective volunteers or those seeking more information at (714) 547-0701.

Velazquez said Miniondas in Orange County is working with radio station KTNQ in Los Angeles, where donations are also being accepted.

At the Red Cross office in Orange County on Thursday, spokeswoman Judy Iannoccone said the organization’s international headquarters has not yet designated Tijuana as a disaster and so it is not yet processing relief supplies.

Iannoccone said the Red Cross office in Orange County is ready to take names of those seeking information, however. . The number at the Red Cross is (714) 835-5381.