Calif. governor estimates $100M in quake damage
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Roads cracked, but have been repaired. Rock slides littered highways, but have been cleared. A water shortage was announced, but it has been remedied.
Although the earthquake has caused devastation in the small California towns of Ridgecrest and Trona, experts said it could have been much worse considering the size of Friday night’s quake. Gov. Gavin Newsom estimated more than $100 million in economic damage, the Associated Press reported.
Although it appears the structural toll on the community was minimal, officials said the deeper devastation is the personal financial burden of recovering from the destruction that occurred behind closed doors. And that destruction might not be over – there is a chance that a sizable quake could hit in the coming week, undoing any recovery work. The damage could be even greater as the prior quakes have weakened building structures.
The magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Ridgecrest on Friday night – a day after the magnitude 6.4 Fourth of July quake hit the same area – traumatized many as homes shook, windows broke and small appliances flew off shelves.
“We are looking at what our total losses are, what was destroyed, major damage or minor damage. We need to know that before we can make a request for major disaster assistance,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, during a Saturday morning news conference.
“This is a socioeconomic issue,” said Newsom during a news conference late Saturday afternoon. “In the mobile home park ... people don’t have a place to go once they have been red-tagged.”
Newsom said the state and federal governments are committed to the community’s recovery. The president needs to declare a national emergency before emergency funds can be allocated. Although President Donald Trump hasn’t made that declaration yet, Newsom said Trump had called him to offer federal support in the rebuilding effort.
Centers will soon be set up in Ridgecrest to provide assistance for locals on how to navigate financial recovery, educating residents on what kind of assistance they might qualify for, even without insurance.
Newsom also expressed concern in addressing the recovery needs of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which is responsible for 86% of local economic activity, he said. The base is also the largest land naval base in the country.
The base, which is located in Ridgecrest, had evacuated all nonessential personnel following the initial July 4 quake. Naval spokesman Paul Dale said crews on the base started recovery efforts after the initial quake, but have to start over following Friday’s nights larger event.
For the immediate future, though, scientists have said there is a 27% chance for a magnitude 6 quake within the next week, said California Institute of Technology seismologist Dr. Egill Hauksson. And officials are warning residents to prepare for this possibility.
The probability for another magnitude 7 quake within the next week in Southern California is 3%, experts said.