|
In This Issue...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Families Displaced by Mudslides Await Help
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Families Displaced by Mudslides Await Help
County Officials Are Hoping for Federal Support
By Judith Wellner
Following winter storms and a series of mudslides in the Santa Cruz Mountains, several roads are still closed and eight homes are red-tagged and unsafe for occupation. The storms that caused first Santa Cruz County officials and subsequently the State to declare emergencies are gone, but their effects will linger. This is particularly true for families whose homes were destroyed.
The County is hoping for Federal support, but so far FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has been hesitant.
“They haven’t yet decided whether this is a serious enough emergency for the federal government to help,” said Dinah Phillips, spokesperson for the County Administrative Office (CAO). “We are trying to document as well as we can both private and public losses.”
The estimated damages are approximately $6 million in road damage and $3 million to private properties. FEMA could, should an emergency be declared, to pay the majority of the approved expenses for repairing public facilities and help with loans and grants to private and non-profit entities.
What Comes Next
The Collins family, whose recently purchased home on Amesti Road was destroyed in the mudslide, is trying to figure out what comes next. Since they lost their house they have been staying with a cousin in Boulder Creek.
“Right now, we are just waiting,” said Jamie Collins.
They are waiting for the insurance companies to respond to their claim and waiting for FEMA to make a decision. In the meantime, they are trying to continue with their daily routine.
Both Jamie and her husband Jeff went back to work just a few days after they lost their home.
“I had to go back. I had to separate myself from what happened,” she said.
Whether or not insurance will cover any of the victims’ losses is yet to be seen. The process can take a long time, even years.
“Your general California home owner’s policy does not cover earth movement,” said Carrie Reinsimar, Assistant Press Secretary for the State Insurance Commissioners Off-ice. However, home owners can also check their flood insurance policy, which may cover water damage.
“Federal Flood Insurance covers damage caused by mudslides where the earth movement is caused by flood waters,” Reinsimar explained.
Back On the Roads?
Several roads that were hit by mudslides are still closed, including Vine Hill road, a significant bypass to Highway 17.
“We don’t have a lot of resources to open up our roadways right now,” said John Presleigh, Assistant Director for Santa Cruz County Public Works.
There is $6 million in this year’s budget for road repair and maintenance. This is the sum available for the whole County and it includes all potential expenses, along with planned projects. The County cannot spend this money solely on emergency repair work.
FEMA usually funds about 75 percent of losses if a disaster is declared. Some of the remaining 25 percent might be picked up by OES (Office of Emergency Services), according to Presleigh.
Even with federal support, it would take two to five years to repair all the roads. Without it, it would take considerably longer, Presleigh added.
The good news is that although there may be a few scattered showers in the coming weeks, storms or heavy rains are not expected in the area anytime soon.
“We are heading to the season when we don’t expect a lot of rain,” said Diana Henderson, forecaster for the National Weather Service.
|
