Special Session of Legislature on Quake Aid All but Certain

As damage estimates from the recent earthquake climbed to more than $200 million, Gov. George Deukmejian said Wednesday that he is all but certain he will call the Legislature into special session to vote additional assistance for quake victims.

While noting that he has yet to confer with legislative leaders on the date of the session, the governor said his advisers have told him that the state cannot supplement federal disaster aid without agreement by the Legislature.

“One of the areas we are examining now and will be considering is what the federal government is able and willing to do along with what the needs are,” Deukmejian told reporters after attending a human relations awards ceremony at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Under the disaster decree issued by President Reagan, low-interest loans of up to $100,000 are available to repair damage to homes with a maximum of $20,000 to replace lost personal property and $500,000 for quake-damaged businesses. Quake victims who do not qualify for other assistance may apply for individual loans and family grants of up to $5,000.

In many cases, the actual damage has far exceeded what is available from the federal government. Among relief measures reportedly under consideration by the Deukmejian Administration are supplemental family grants and state grants to cities, counties and school districts to repair damage to public facilities.

Deukmejian also has said he would seek cooperation of banking and credit institutions to “consider the disastrous conditions” when evaluating loan applications from earthquake victims.

The state Office of Emergency Services, meanwhile, set its latest estimate of damages at $213.6 million, up from its previous $177-million estimate. But officials warned that this figure may vary after damage assessment teams complete a study of underground systems and structures.

“Starting next Friday teams of engineers and emergency management personnel will take a closer look at the damage to underground electrical lines, pipelines, building structures and other underground systems,” said Tom Mullins, a spokesman for the state Office of Emergency Services.

Meanwhile, public officials from federal and state disaster agencies met Wednesday at Montebello City Hall with representatives from affected cities to lay out guidelines for obtaining federal assistance.

According to the state estimate, Los Angeles County suffered $37.9 million in damage to public property and $142.8 to private property, while Orange County sustained damages totaling $1.1 million to public property and $5 million to private property.

Within Los Angeles County, the cities reporting the most costly damage were Los Angeles, Commerce, Monterey Park, Whittier and Alhambra.

“This doesn’t necessarily mean that these were the hardest-hit cities, because one city may be a bit ahead of others in its assessment of damages,” said Nancy Hardeker, an emergency services spokeswoman.

In the city of Los Angeles, the state estimated damage to public property at $3.5 million, and $18 million to private property. But even as the state was releasing its figures, Building and Safety Department officials had upped the city’s damage total to $31 million.

In Whittier, the epicenter of the earthquake, damages were estimated at $106,000 to public property and $10 million to private property.

The total damage to state agencies was estimated at $2.6 million.

In Sacramento, legislative leaders have already expressed their willingness to cooperate with Deukmejian in convening a special session. Some lawmakers, however, have asked that the session also include consideration of disaster relief for victims of recent Northern California fires and several other issues that were left unresolved when lawmakers adjourned for the year on Sept. 11.

Deukmejian, however, said he believes the session should be limited to consideration of earthquake relief measures. And he predicted the session could be wrapped up in as little as one day.

Legislative sources have said the soonest the session could be held is early November because many lawmakers are out of the state or country. A majority of the 120-member Legislature would be required to conduct business.

Earlier this week, Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) said he authorized the drafting of a bill that would supplement federal disaster aid with $147 million from the state. The bill, to be carried by Assemblyman Charles M. Calderon (D-Alhambra), would take the money from the governor’s reserve for economic emergencies.

Calderon said $100 million would be made available to individuals and small businesses in grants up to $10,000 each. The additional $47 million would be allocated to schools and local governments.

Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) has proposed a $105-million emergency aid package and said he also intends to push for immediate consideration of a $350-million bond issue to bring state buildings up to earthquake standards. That measure has been stalled in the Legislature.