SANTA PAULA : City to Apply for Storm Relief Funds
The Santa Paula City Council on Monday decided to apply for $15,000 to $20,000 in state and federal disaster relief to reimburse the city for clearing streets and storm drains of debris collected during February’s floods.
The council appointed three city officials to file the application with the state Office of Emergency Services, which is working in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Rainstorms between Feb. 9 and 18 washed debris onto city streets and filled the Anacapa Terrace basin with rocks and mud, City Finance Director Cindy Kretzer said.
Kretzer estimated the cleanup would cost at least $16,000.
She said the city also spent about $1,000 on sandbags.
President Bush declared Ventura County and four other counties disaster areas in February, setting in motion FEMA’s agreement to distribute $77.5 million to local governments to repair roads, bridges, flood-control facilities and other property damaged during the storms.
The state of California has agreed to match one-quarter of that sum.
If the application is approved, the city would receive the funds within six months to a year, Kretzer said.
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