Aid Centers Open but No Money Yet

Hundreds of expectant earthquake victims lined up for federal aid Sunday as seven disaster assistance centers opened throughout the Bay Area, but most went home empty-handed and disappointed after learning that financial help could still be a week or more away.

Although some people showed up hours before the centers’ 1 p.m. opening time, crowds at most relief stations were lighter than expected. At the San Mateo County center in Daly City, the number of people seeking aid had not even reached double digits by dusk.

Johnny Taylor, manager of the federal assistance post in Oakland, said the fact that the centers opened with little advance notice on a Sunday might account for the low turnout.

The centers were established to provide a wide range of assistance all in one place, enabling victims to receive food, clothing and temporary shelter while applying for low-interest loans and grants to rebuild damaged homes and businesses.

While some people took home provisions Sunday, cash was the commodity sought by most--and obtained by none.

“It is not a quick process,” conceded Jim Aguirre, an official with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is operating the relief posts with help from the California Office of Emergency Services. “Most people can expect to wait several weeks for their checks.”

Once forms are filled out, he said, damages must be verified by the Small Business Administration, which handles most of the applications.

Such explanations were of little comfort to weary quake victims, many of whom turned out Sunday with hopes that the federal government might quickly loosen its wallet. Although they waited patiently for assistance in orderly lines, many were clearly disappointed when told their first infusion was at least seven days away.

Marge Summer was among several hundred people who showed up at a processing center at the Presidio in San Francisco to apply for disaster funds from the Small Business Administration, aid made possible when President Bush declared portions of Northern California a disaster area Wednesday.

“I want whatever I can get within reason,” Summer told a reporter. “Just enough to restore what I had before.”

Summer said the interior of her two-story home in the Marina District collapsed in Tuesday’s quake, leaving little but the outside walls standing.

To the south in the poor agricultural community of Watsonville, Jim Barsi waited with about 75 other quake victims in a line at a FEMA center in a small shopping center. The owner of Barsi’s Liquors said his business lost $50,000 in the quake due to broken inventory. Another $50,000 to $70,000 worth of damage was caused to his home, which was left mostly uninhabitable.

When Barsi finally got to the head of the line Sunday, he received no estimation of when he would receive the loans he needs to rebuild.

“I don’t want a handout, just some assistance so I can get my business going again,” a frustrated Barsi said. “All my bills are due in 29 days. If I don’t pay and they don’t deliver me a new stock of inventory, then I’m up a creek.”

Homeowners may apply for maximum loans of $100,000 on real estate and $20,000 to replace personal property like furniture, clothing or automobiles, said George Camp, the SBA’s deputy Western regional director in Sacramento. Business owners are eligible for loans up to $500,000. Loans may only be sought for uninsured losses, and boats or other recreational equipment may not be included, Camp said.

Federal officials said loans of 8% interest are available to applicants who have jobs and can repay them. Those of lower income may apply for 4% interest loans. In some cases, outright grants of up to $10,000 may be awarded to families who have little or no ability to repay a loan.

FEMA has allocated $25 million in start-up funds for the counties--San Francisco, Alameda, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Monterey--that are eligible for aid.

No applicants took home cash Sunday. Rather, officials helped them fill out a one-page form that sought insurance information, details of damages and family income. Later SBA officials must make on-site inspections to verify losses.

Homeless families may obtain rental assistance for up to 18 months, although funds must be reapplied for every three months.

Roger Battaglia, 42, his wife, Linda, and their young daughter stood in line in San Francisco, hoping for help with temporary housing. Battaglia said his family was made homeless when a two-story flat owned by his mother was severely damaged. He was realistic about the prospects of quick federal assistance.

“Do I think this is going to be a long, drawn-out process? Yes, I do,” he remarked.

By day’s end, 6,241 people had sought help via a 24-hour FEMA hot line, and 565 had applied in person. The volume added to the likelihood that Bay Area quake victims will experience frustrating delays mirroring those endured two years ago by those who suffered losses in the Whittier temblor.

Of 31,689 homeowners and businessmen who sought federal financial aid in the wake of that disaster, the first 170 checks totaling $140,000 were in the mail only six days after assistance centers opened.

That speedy response caused the hopes of the other victims to run high. But many wound up waiting two to three months for their checks, and most of the payments arrived in increments of $5,000 each, forcing victims to draw upon their own savings to make repairs until they received the full amounts of their loans.

Moreover, at least two dozen Whittier residents have yet to receive any payments, according to local authorities.

Officials said five more Bay Area relief centers are scheduled to open within the next two days.

Early Sunday, rumors spread in Santa Cruz County that illegal immigrants would not be eligible for federal aid. FEMA officials later assured victims that citizenship was not a requirement to receive benefits.

Still, relief workers in Watsonville--where about half of the 2,000 people left homeless by the quake are believed to be illegal immigrants--said many Latino victims stayed away apparently fearing that they would be apprehended and deported.

Jackson reported from San Francisco, Corwin from Watsonville.