Wilson Seeks Federal Aid for Storm Damage

Mayor Richard Riordan, the county Board of Supervisors and Gov. Pete Wilson took steps Wednesday to provide state and federal financial aid for homeowners and public agencies hard hit by the ongoing series of punishing rainstorms.

The governmental requests for assistance came as Southern California braced for at least two more powerful Pacific storms--the first due this afternoon and the second over the weekend.

Riordan and the supervisors declared states of emergency in the city and county, and the governor responded by seconding those declarations. In addition, Wilson sent a letter to President Clinton asking for a federal declaration that the city and county are disaster areas.

In a letter to Wilson on Wednesday afternoon, Riordan said that despite working around the clock for more than a week, city emergency crews have found they are being overwhelmed by requests for help.

“The recent rainstorms have taken their toll under homes and along rain-soaked hillsides,” the mayor said. “It is beyond the capability of our city to respond to or assist those in need without state and federal assistance.”

Wilson’s declarations of states of emergency Wednesday evening will allow the city and county to recover some of their emergency-response and public-assistance costs from the state, the governor’s office said.

Ron Low, a spokesman for Wilson’s office, said that if the president responds as expected and declares the city and county disaster areas, that will free up grants and loans from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to residents whose property has been damaged by the rainstorms.

National Weather Service forecasts call for rain to begin falling on the already sodden Los Angeles Basin this afternoon and continuing through the night. Meteorologists said the rain will be heavy at times, increasing the chances of additional mudslides.

Although the rain is expected to taper off to showers on Friday morning, there is a chance of a few strong thunderstorms before the storm system moves out to the east on Friday night.

Clouds are expected to increase again Saturday night as the second storm starts moving into Southern California. More rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday.