$1.5M Windstorm Cost May Come From City Pockets

The 2011 windstorm that uprooted trees, ravaged homes and businesses and caused days-long power outages Sierra Madre left behind a staggering amount of damage that the city may have to cover itself.

Though city officials have appealed for county and federal aid to cover the $1.5 million in windstorm recovery and response costs, the chances of aid are looking increasingly grim.

“The county doesn’t have any money, the state doesn’t have any money,” said Elaine Aguilar, Sierra Madre City Manager. Sierra Madre and neighboring cities may have to dig into their own pockets.

The Pasadena Star-News reported Friday that the California Emergency Management Agency said that the state will not be able to provide windstorm relief funding because of the poor state of the budget.

The lack of federal aid comes as a surprise, since Gov/ Jerry Brown and CalEMA toured the San Gabriel Valley last month to assess the windstorm aftermath, and Brown declared a state of emergency expressly to speed up the process of getting disaster relief aid to the area.

It doesn't help that, to be eligible for federal disaster relief, there must be  $50.3 million in damages; the windstorm caused approximately $34.1 million in damages at last count, according to the Star-News.

How will Sierra Madre cover the cost?

Aguilar said there are two ways for the city to fund the windstorm recovery and response: tap into General Fund reserves or reduce current city expenditures--i.e., make cuts.

The General Fund reserves currently total $4.5 million and are separate from the city’s General Fund.

Ultimately, the City Council will determine how to fund windstorm costs. City officials are preparing to go in front of Mayor John Buchanan and the council during the Jan. 24 council meeting with a report.

The cost of the windstorm

Here’s the cost of the windstorm, broken down:

Total cost: $6.3 million
Private homes and vehicles: $4.8 million
City cost: $1.5 million

• $700,000 cost in debris removal
• $500,000 damage to city buildings and equipment
• $200,000 in maintenance on hazardous trees and branches
• $50,000 toll on government facilities
• $50,000 in public utilities (like streets, curbs and sidewalks)

Business revenue lost: $20,000

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What do you think: How should the city cover the $1.5 million in windstorm damage?