Flood Repair Plan Meets Skepticism

Residents whose homes were devastated in this week’s rupture of a Westminster water storage tank expressed skepticism Friday at the city’s assertion that the 10 most severely damaged homes can be repaired instead of rebuilt.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Rich Lechler, a 16-year resident. “It sounds cockeyed to me. I definitely want to come back and I’ll be very upset if they don’t knock it down. That’s why we have insurance.”

Lechler, 46, was among the residents who returned to the ravaged Hefley Square condominium complex Friday and grimly packed what belongings they could find.

It was early Monday morning that a city-owned tank filled with 5 million gallons of water ruptured and sent a wall of water through a nearby fire station and the 49-unit condominium complex. Six people were injured and 10 families were left homeless.

After crews examined the townhomes, city officials announced that uninhabitable units would not have to be demolished and rebuilt.

“After [workers] got it all shored up, they were able to ascertain the extent of the damage,” city spokeswoman Marianne Milligan said Friday. Repairs “will take substantially less time than it would take to demolish and rebuild.”

Milligan declined to comment on residents’ negative reaction to that plan and said the decision had been made by the homeowners association’s insurance company.

But Larry Tomas, president of the homeowners association, said a final decision about the matter has not been made.

“The association has its own consultants,” Tomas said. “Once they give us a written opinion, then we’ll go from there.”

Meanwhile, city officials released a new damage total of $29 million at a late afternoon news conference. About $17 million of that is public damage--including about $4.5 million to the ruptured water tank--and the remaining $12 million is in private damage, said Westminster Police Capt. Andrew Hall.

Milligan said the city has more than enough insurance to cover the damage, and Orange County government officials are seeking money from the state so that immediate funds will be available to victims.

Demolition of seven heavily damaged garages and major cleanup were expected to be completed by Friday night. The city hopes to have the 10 families left homeless moved into long-term temporary housing by Tuesday.

About a dozen of the 39 families temporarily forced from their homes have not yet returned because of wet carpeting and odors.

“Even though [the units] are technically inhabitable, they are not pleasant to live in yet,” Hall said.

But Zavan Kulajian, 56, will not be among those moving back any time soon. He spent the day filling a locker with belongings and mourned the loss of a cherished accordion his father had bought for him in 1956--and which Kulajian still played.

“I’m really going to miss that,” he said as he paused for a late afternoon break. “A lot of things are ruined. We’ll see what we can salvage.”

Kulajian, who is staying at a hotel compliments of the city, admitted that the ordeal is beginning to take an emotional toll.

“It’s too much to deal with,” he said. “It’s very traumatic. I literally became dizzy this morning when I thought about all the things I need to do.”

Tomas said that while residents are upset that the water tank failed, they are grateful for the help they have received from the city, police, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Red Cross.

“They have done a wonderful job, and that’s the feeling of all the homeowners,” Tomas said.

Insurance adjusters met with residents throughout the day Friday to take care of the most immediate needs, such as rental cars. In all, 25 vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the flood.

The City Council on Monday is expected to approve the hiring of an engineering firm to determine the cause of the rupture. The city will then decide whether to repair the existing tank or build a new one.

Hall said police will remain in the neighborhood throughout the weekend and asked the public to stay away.

“We need to keep the area secure,” he said.

The police captain also said that anyone wanting to donate goods to the flood victims can call the Westminster Disaster Project, organized by the Volunteer Exchange, at (714) 899-6849. The Orange County Red Cross, which is expected to spend $30,000 to aid flood victims, is seeking monetary contributions. For more information, call (714) 835-5381.