Damage Estimate in Redondo Is Doubled After a Second Look

After suffering heavy losses at the hands of Mother Nature earlier in the week, Redondo Beach finally won a round Friday, this time from the federal government.

Redondo Beach officials convinced the Federal Emergency Management Agency that the stiff winds and heavy surf on Sunday and Monday caused nearly $3 million in damage to public facilities, almost twice initial federal estimates.

The first assessment by a team of state and federal appraisers completed late Thursday put the price tag for repairing the city’s King Harbor area at $1.6 million.

Team Returns

Alarmed that the city might have to make up the difference because the preliminary figure was so low, Redondo Beach City Manager Tim Casey expressed concern to state and federal disaster officials and they agreed to send the assessment team back to the harbor on Friday.

Roy Gorup, chief of public assistance for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s regional office in San Francisco, said the revised figure is “going to be right in the neighborhood of $3 million.”

Overlooked Damage

The revisions in the damage estimates were made after federal officials toured the harbor area with an engineer who supervised its construction and who showed them areas of extensive damage that they had overlooked.

Casey was relieved by the new estimate. “We’re very pleased with their response,” he said. “It was imperative that these figures be as realistic as possible” to enhance the city’s chances of having a disaster area declared by President Reagan.

“This will help out with our case with Washington,” Casey said. “If we get a presidential disaster declaration, it is conceivable that we could end up with 75 cents on the dollar” paid by the federal government.

The remaining 25% of the cost to repair damage to public property would be shared by the state and local government, according to Redondo Beach Emergency Services Director Suzanne Butler.

Gov. George Deukmejian on Thursday proclaimed a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties in the wake of the powerful winter storm that battered the coastline from Santa Barbara to Mexico.

The storm damaged a dozen restaurants, forced evacuation of a waterfront hotel and sank boats at Redondo Beach, and flooded coastal homes in Malibu and along the Orange County coastline.

Legal Prerequisite

The governor’s proclamation is a legal prerequisite to receiving the federal disaster designation, which would trigger financial assistance for local governments, homeowners and businesses.

Officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s regional office in San Francisco said Redondo Beach was the only community in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties to express concern about preliminary damage estimates.

Dale Peterson, executive assistant to FEMA’s regional director, said in a telephone interview that no final damage estimate for the three counties is available. Preliminary damage figures are still being compiled and will go to Washington next week.