U.S., State Extend Deadline to Seek Earthquake Aid

Federal and state officials Thursday extended the deadline to apply for earthquake aid from Oct. 17 to Nov. 17, despite appeals from Los Angeles city officials to push the deadline all the way to the first anniversary of the temblor in January.

The extension was granted, state and federal officials said, because many victims are only now learning the extent of damage and finding out how much of the repairs their insurance will pay.

The deadline applies to aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and the state’s Individual and Family Grant Program. It had previously been extended from Sept. 17 to Oct. 17, the most recent of several extensions.

City officials, who last week asked for an extension to Jan. 17, said the one-month delay will help many victims apply for aid. But some officials said they plan on pressing for yet more time.

“It’s better than nothing, but I don’t think it’s sufficient time and I will continue to keep pressing for the Jan. 17 deadline,” City Controller Rick Tuttle said.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Richard Riordan, who wrote to state officials Sept. 30 asking for the Jan. 17 extension, was more diplomatic, saying the mayor would ask for another extension only if it is clear that quake victims need more time.

“We will continue to work with the federal government to make sure that together we can do what we can to get benefits to the people who need them,” Riordan spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez said.

FEMA officials would not rule out another extension but said they would grant additional delays only if the number of applications filed with federal disaster centers remains high.

“As the deadline approaches, we will continue to analyze the need for an extension as we go along,” FEMA spokesman Russ Edmonston said. “We felt at this point that a month is sufficient.”

So far, federal disaster officials have received more than 637,000 requests for aid. During the past few weeks, 700 to 800 quake victims have applied for federal aid each day, Edmonston said.

But federal and local officials urged quake victims not to delay in filing, warning that another extension may not be granted.

“We encourage those applicants who still have not filed their SBA disaster loan applications to use this extension to quickly complete and submit their applications,” SBA branch manager John Brenner said. “If you don’t apply, we can’t help you.”