Countywide : Cities to Seek Aid for Storm Damage

Preliminary estimates indicate that cities in Orange County will seek more than $750,000 in federal disaster relief funds to repair damage caused by eight days of heavy rainfall in February.

March 26 was the deadline for cities to submit preliminary estimates on storm damage costs to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Federal and state inspectors must inspect each damage site to verify that it qualifies for relief. Officials from several cities said the process can take months, with larger claims requiring up to a year before money is released.

Federal guidelines allow cities to seek reimbursement for damage to public buildings and facilities, infrastructure and parks, as well as for the cost of emergency services such as sandbagging and traffic control.

The largest claim filed was from Laguna Beach, which suffered extensive road damage and slope erosion. Fire Chief Rich Dewberry said the city will seek $500,000 from the federal agency, most of which will go to reimburse the city for money it has already spent.

Slope failures on equestrian trails in San Juan Capistrano account for most of that city’s $60,000 to $100,000 claim. Director of Administrative Services David Bentz said the city is also seeking reimbursement for road cleanup, sandbagging and other emergency measures.

In Placentia, city officials will seek $60,000, about half of that to pay for street repairs. The remainder is to replace water-damaged carpeting in a fire station and the gymnasium floor at Tynes Elementary School.

Three cities have applied for funds to repair damage to flood control channels. Buena Park Fire Chief Herb Jewell said the cost of repairing damage to Fullerton Creek will be significant, although he did not offer a specific figure.

Fullerton city engineer Chris Johansen estimated the city would apply for about $34,000, the majority of that to pay for repairs to two flood control channels.

Newport Beach also had flood control damage, but the majority of its $37,000 claim will be to reimburse the city for added personnel required to clean up more than 500 tons of debris that has washed up on the beach. Debris removal also figured in claims from Dana Point and Seal Beach.

Dana Point emergency service coordinator Andy Anderson said about $18,000 was spent removing debris, silt and tree limbs. Seal Beach will file the smallest claim, about $5,000, to reimburse the city for personnel costs incurred in cleaning up debris on the beach.

City claims only cover damage to public property. Residents who suffered damage to private property may also be eligible for federal relief in the form of loans, housing aid and grants.

For inquiries about private property damage caused by the storms, residents may call the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national tele-registration center.

The deadline for seeking assistance is April 25. The center provides inspections and referrals for small business loans, housing aid and low-income grants. As of Wednesday, nearly 3,000 Southern California residents had called in claims.

Residents seeking assistance can schedule an inspection appointment by calling the center. Inspectors assess damage and make referrals to assistance agencies, which determine whether the property qualifies for aid.

Only those with damage not covered by insurance should seek federal aid, said Martha Stratton, the center’s floor manager.

To schedule an inspection, call the center at (800) 462-9029. For additional information, call the center’s hot-line number at (800) 660-8005.