The first official accounting of damage in San Diego County from the torrential on January 22, 2024 storms estimated that more than 800 homes were impacted by flooding, and local schools across the region sustained an estimated $4 million in damage.

That data and more are contained in a letter sent Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the federal government asking President Joe Biden for a Major Disaster Declaration for the county. If approved, the declaration means victims of the flood are eligible for assistance with housing, food, medical and legal needs, and vehicle replacement, among other things.

The six-page letter gives a grim tally of the destruction that came from the powerful storm which dumped nearly 3 inches of rain on the county. The National Weather Service said it was the wettest January day ever in San Diego, and the fourth rainiest overall.

Newsom's letter highlighted that the bulk of the damage fell on "the most vulnerable areas within the county" - low-lying neighborhoods like Southcrest and Encanto that are also areas which are predominantly low income, with higher unemployment rates than the county average, and have few homeowners with flood insurance.

Questions:

1. Briefly review the incident and the lessons learned from the actions taken during the incident.
2. How is this incident a critical incident?
3. How might it relate to an organization/community?
4. What can be applied to an Operational Planning?
5. Add references.