Stormy Weather Pt 2

Gov. Schwarzenegger declares SLO County a disaster area
Kathe Tanner
The Tribune

San Luis Obispo County is among 11 counties in the state declared disaster areas by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday due to storm damage.

The governor¹s proclamation will free up state emergency funds for public agencies to repair infrastructure damaged in the storms.

The storm caused nearly $8 million in damage countywide, according to county emergency services coordinator Ron Alsop. He said the declaration is a start toward a federal declaration that could lead to low-cost federal loans to help cover uninsured losses for homeowners.

Areas of Cambria, Oceano, Nipomo and the North County were hardest hit in this county. In Cambria, Jan. 2 winds blew down hundreds of trees, with at least 80 damaging property.

Alsop said Friday that the county hasn¹t been notified yet if Schwarzenegger is going to ask President Bush for a federal declaration. Getting a federal declaration took three weeks after the San Simeon Earthquake.

People can call their state and local legislators to ask for their help in getting the federal declaration, Alsop said, adding, “other than that, we all have to wait.”

--Kathe Tanner, ktanner@thetribunenews.com