PANORAMA CITY : Quake Brings Some Workers Down to Earth

In the wake of the Northridge earthquake’s destruction to Panorama City high-rise office buildings, hundreds of people have abandoned their lofty work spaces for more down-to-earth environs. And from a congressman to social workers, many former tenants are struggling to continue providing services.

“We’re getting out right now,” said Tim Farrell, a union steward for county Department of Children’s Services, which had occupied the 13-story Panorama Towers on Van Nuys Boulevard. “We don’t have another building. It’s going to be rough.”

After hearing safety concerns about the building, Children’s Services officials Monday ordered Farrell and the 200 social workers who occupy the building to pack up their files. While the building has not been condemned, city inspectors have ruled that a portion of the building is unsafe.

The evacuation leaves the social workers in need of another 48,000-square-foot office space. And with so little time to mobilize, Farrell said many expect to spend the next month without a desk.

“The social workers are going to be telecommuting. Working from their cars and homes,” Farrell said.

Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) is not much luckier.

Although his staff was fortunate enough to be offered office space in the old San Fernando police station, they have not been able to retrieve their computers, constituents’ files and other equipment from the now-trashed fifth-story office on Roscoe Boulevard.

No one has been allowed in the office since Jan. 18.

“It’s left me without my possessions, essentially,” Berman said Tuesday from Washington, D.C.

But Berman is not complaining. The disaster has forced him to temporarily cancel only one of his services--tax advice for senior citizens. His phone numbers remain the same and his staff members are still taking calls from constituents and coordinating earthquake relief efforts in the field.

But Farrell said Children’s Services will think twice before operating out of another high-rise in the San Fernando Valley.

“We’re looking for something one or two stories,” said Ferrell.