FELTON, Calif. — The 11-man crew assembled at the Felton office of Santa Cruz County's Department of Public Works, waiting to hear what physical and mental toil they were going to be assigned.
With a break in the rain and wind after days of deluge, Jose Rodriguez, their supervisor, was desperate to get them out before the weather changed again. Their task: clearing away the evidence of nature's wrath, helping this small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains limp back to life.
"I have 60 work orders open. They range from — oh, sorry. I have to get that," he said Thursday morning, putting the phone to his ear and then mouthing, "Here's another one. Sixty-one."
