Seismic Grants Up to $5,000 to Be Offered to Quake Victims

Disaster officials announced Friday that they will send out 250,000 letters next week offering up to $5,000 in earthquake retrofitting funds to homeowners who file applications for less than $10,000 in federal assistance to repair their homes.

The kind of retrofitting that would qualify for the additional federal grants includes bolting houses to foundations, strapping water heaters to walls, and bracing chimneys, cripple walls or mobile homes, according to state and federal officials.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay a set amount--such as $50 to strap water heaters--for each specific retrofitting operation, with the maximum grant of $5,000 per household.

The announcement by Richard Andrews, director of the state Office of Emergency Services, and John W. Eldridge Jr., a federal hazard mitigation officer, made it clear that the retrofitting money would go only to those who apply for earthquake repair assistance. The deadline for applications has been extended to July 17.

Andrews and Eldridge disclosed the plans at a news conference concluding a two-day workshop in Pasadena sponsored by FEMA and the Office of Emergency Services. About 100 local and state officials gathered to discuss what additional steps need to be taken to guard to the maximum extent from future quake damage.

One idea broached during the discussions was the possibility of mandatory strengthening of all private homes in seismically risky areas.

But this was dismissed as being politically infeasible. L. Thomas Tobin, executive director of the state Seismic Safety Commission, noted that a mandatory residential retrofitting bill won legislative approval in 1990 but was vetoed by Gov. George Deukmejian.

Tobin said no such proposal is being considered and that although the state recommends retrofitting, it remains up to homeowners whether to undertake it.

Andrews and Eldridge said the letter to go out next week will contain a brochure outlining the kinds of retrofitting that might be advisable at the time earthquake repairs are performed.

They added that the federal Small Business Administration will also encourage retrofitting by adding up to 20% to loan amounts for those applying for assistance of more than $10,000.

“We intend to recommend a number of amendments to the state’s existing hazard mitigation plan based on the ongoing studies of the Northridge quake,” Eldridge said.

For instance, he said, broken sprinkler pipes caused by the earthquake led to flooding that severely damaged many offices. “A small fix could have prevented a serious loss,” he said, “so that should be part of the new plan.”