Times-Standard - Brown, Thompson seek disaster relief from Obama
“Last month's tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure up and down California's coast,” Thompson said in a press release. “Without assistance, I am extremely concerned that recovery efforts in affected communities, including those I represent, will languish. That's why my colleagues and I are strongly urging the president to support Governor Brown's request for a federal disaster declaration to help get local communities back on their feet.”
In the letter, also signed by 22 other members of the California House of Representatives delegation, the Congress members said the tsunami's “heavy surge and wave activity overwhelmed California's coastal areas, causing significant destruction. The harbors in both Santa Cruz and Crescent City have been destroyed, with additional damage in the counties of San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Mendocino and Humboldt. Statewide preliminary damage assessment findings estimate economic damages to be $48,147,938.
“Over 150 vessels have been damaged, and over 30 vessels have sunk,” the letter continues. “Additionally, oil sheens have been reported, and the sunken vessels continue to pose the threat of substantial hazardous releases, as well as navigational dangers, that would exacerbate the economic devastation.”
The letter to Obama said that while California's state and local authorities are working to repair the damage caused by the tsunami, “additional federal assistance is necessary to repair and rebuild harbors and other damaged infrastructure, as well as to safeguard our communities from future losses.”
Brown added that “the recent tsunami incident, coupled with California's other recent disasters, is of such severity and magnitude that supplementary federal assistance is necessary, as the effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments.”