A Proper Reversal by FEMA

In a policy reversal that is reasonable and long overdue, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending checks to 2,000 homeowners who originally were refused reimbursement for the cost of having their houses bolted to foundations after the devastating Northridge earthquake.

The original refusal to cover the cost of the preventive measure stemmed in part from confusion about what work was needed. In some cases, FEMA officials determined that homes had been previously bolted to the foundation but that homeowners either were unaware of this or they thought the old bolting jobs failed to meet new seismic standards. Clearly, a few contractors took unfair advantage after the earthquake, but neither the homeowners nor FEMA can be blamed for those unscrupulous actions.

In other cases, FEMA inspectors assured homeowners they would be reimbursed even though their houses were already bolted. Their applications were subsequently rejected despite reassurances from government inspectors and engineers. Those promises were honored under the new shift in policy.

Some confusion was to be expected after the monster earthquake. In the initial aftermath, FEMA reimbursed many homeowners for retrofitting work on homes that had preexisting bolts. Yet, other homeowners were rejected months after the quake for similar work. That wasn’t fair. To avoid questions after future disasters, FEMA needs a clearly stated policy about bolted homes. That policy should be consistently applied.

Although the recovery from the 1994 earthquake is still not complete, FEMA deserves credit for paying out about $92.5 million to retrofit homes and businesses and $23 million more to bolt down homes, plus the $3 million in new reimbursements for the formerly challenged house-bolting work. Now, the federal government needs to finish the job.