Supervisors Ask State for Disaster Funds to Repair Avalon Damage

The County Board of Supervisors has declared that an emergency exists in Avalon and has asked Gov. George Deukmejian to determine that the Santa Catalina Island city qualifies for state disaster funds to repair damage from a Feb. 17 storm.

But the state Office of Emergency Services said this week that it has already decided that Avalon did not sustain enough damage to qualify for federal emergency assistance and likely will receive state funds to pay for only a fraction of the damage.

Avalon was ripped by a combination of high winds and tides two weeks ago, causing damage to the harbor, beach, roadways and businesses, which city officials estimated at $1.2 million.

Avalon officials set damage to public property at $561,000, but state engineers found public damage of less than $100,000--too low to receive federal aid, said James Alexander, regional director of the Office of Emergency Services. The city had included $250,000 to repair a privately owned road in its estimate, City Manager John Longley said.

Local officials said private businesses sustained losses of more than $600,000, a figure state engineers did not challenge.

Nevertheless, the private damage did not approach the level necessary for federal assistance, Alexander said. Longley said one restaurant collapsed and five other businesses had to be closed for repair.

Avalon may qualify for about $65,000 in state funds to help pay for public damage, Alexander said.

The supervisors’ declaration Tuesday follows a request for emergency aid that city officials made immediately after the storm, Alexander said. “They’re just trying to put a little pressure on to help their city,” he said.

A motion by Supervisor Deane Dana, in whose district Avalon is located, declared that “without question, the damage costs will place an impossible financial strain on the small community of Avalon without help from federal and state governments.”

After the storm--which brought winds of up to 45 m.p.h. simultaneously with a high tide--local officials said it had been extremely severe and had struck areas not hit for at least 50 years by crashing waves.

Besides damage to pilings, utilities and public restrooms, a concrete walkway between the downtown area and the landmark Casino was severely damaged, Longley said. Major portions of Pebbly Beach Road were also washed out and three pleasure craft sustained damage, he said.