Page 14 - sc0302

final tally is known.
City officials work community," she said. "It's obvious
"We don't have a breakdown by
C ntlnued from page A 1
anybody."
earthquake-related issues can be Valencia was hit a lot harder than
out of tent, trailers answered by staff in the tent. - A total of 3,113 private buildings
such as homes and churches -
The busiest activity continues to
be building inspections, with 30 to and 583 public buildings sustained
I By Mark Sabbatini 94 aftermath and gear up for what is 40 teams of inspectors from the damage, according to the latest
I Signal Staff Writer certain to be a challenging few region perfonning 800 inspections figures. Damages include $11.2
daily, Foy said. She said damage is
million to roads, $3.6 million to
I months. estimaterd at more than $162 million bridges, $76 million to public and
Santa CLARITA - City offi- "We're trying to evolve from an to date and it will be weeks before a private schools. $23.5 million to
Inside scoop cials have moved into less distin- emergency operations center to a
Carol ROCK guished - but considerably safer satellite City Hall," she said.
Everything involving expensive
housing for at least the next two
t of the rubble months, operating from two mobile equipment, from payroll to the single family homes and $8.8 mil-
e many heroes of the devastated City Hall. city's disaster hotline, were lion to multi-family dwellings.
trailers and a tent in the parking lot
The city's emergency operations .
crammed into the trailers, while
Aftertl e dust settles (and they say Last week's earthquake made utilities officials and others fielded center handling tasks such as
it will, eventually) it will be hard to City Hall uninhabitable and virtu- questions · under the "Big Top" analyzing and compiling damage
pick one hero(ine) from the hundreds ally all of the offices, plus addi- outside. data - is continuing to operate 24
on the streets of Santa Clarita. One hours a day, Foy said. City employ-
name I've heard over and over is tional emergency services, had to The city is trying to help private ees have been working 12 hours a
Adele MacPberson, the city's be relocated, said Gail Foy, city businesses and offices at City Hall
emergency preparedness coordinator. spokeswoman. She guided the me- find a location to operate from until day, seven days a week since the
Formerly from the Red Cross, Adele quake hit, but she said officials are
. came on board the city staff (al the dia on a tour of the facilities during repairs are completed, Foy added. trying to end that this week.
idding of City Manager George Car- a press conference Wednesday, Residents can obtain building
avalho who made our preparedness where the latest local damage fig- permits and Metrolink passes from Residents with questions can call
one of his priorities) where she the city's hot line at 286-4105.
started the S.E.C.U.R.E. program to ures were released. offices in the trailer. Infonnation on
get us ready for The inevitable. When Foy said city employees and FEMA, when water will be restored
you see her on the street after things volunteers are trying to adjust from to homes, shelters and other
calm down, thank her. We're so lucky
to have her! he chaos of the quake's initial See CITY, page A9
1 he city's occasionally excitable
volunteer coordinator Priscilla Nielsen
has used willing citizens to do every-
this· ng under the sun, whether it was Speaking of hugs, at the SCV Sc-
selling Metrolink tickets or distributing nior Center on Markel Street, Carolyn
drinkingwater (which you should use,
theytell us now, for at least another Shullz says they could use some ·
folks to give the seniors there some
t ·o weeks). Priscilla would like you
ali to know that she is eternally companionship, listen if tl1ey want to
talk or help clean up the facilities.
grateful for everything - bul if you Silent victims of the earthquake are
have a few spare hours, she's looking many pets, who fled in fear of the
for people to ride along with building shaking and may not be able to get
inspectorsand people to go into the home. Laurene Weste and Margo
inance department for numerical fil- White have been spending sleepJe·ss
ing. Call her at 286-4102 to sign up. nights trying to reunite pets with their City's true colors shine throu
As you should, we at The Mighty owners. The Castaic Shelter
Signal tip our hats to the city's col- (257-3100) is holding all animals
l etive efforts and super-organized found since last Monday and are not It's been more than a week but · place to go to get help. By its
support i these troubled times. euthanizing any healthy animals turned
Now, if your house is in order, in If your pet is missing, GO to the it seems just like yesterday when mere existence, it helps ease our
your roof stable and your family shelter, don't call, it's easier to ID the 6.6 temblor rocked our area. ragged minds. It lets us know
somewhat calm, this is a good lime 1.hem in person. Even if the shelter is The aftershocks have kept all of there leaders do care. And that's
to give someone else a hand. The closed for adoptions or registration,
Red Cross, which is operating four we've been told they will let you us on edge, and has thrown some half the battle.
st sheltersin town (that may stay open check on your animal's status. over the edge. It's a tough time. Some people go there to just
another two to five weeks), can use When Hart Park was closed and
some folks to relieve the workers that waterless thanks to a broken water But it's also a time to recog- talk, share the nighbnare. That's
have been at it for over a week. Ac- line, animal keeper Margo went in lo nize those who have worked dili- fine. Talk it to death.
cording to volunteer coordinator Anne care for her furred and feathered gently to try to provide residents Ste Whitmore Some people are upset with the
Mosher here from Oakland (bless all charges. Finding no water, she called ve ore
of you out-of-towners), they always Laurene, who called Jim Jinks, head with much-needed help. service, saying it's not fast, com-
need help loading equipment or sup- I have repeatedly criticized city plete or good enough. We can al-
of the Newhall Water Company. Jinks
plies in their central location or serv- said she could have water if she officials for making sophomoric the Los Angeles County Fire De- ways do better and city officials
in meals at the shelters. So far, over would just come get it. Another call,
630 volunteers from Santa Clarita are this one to Andre Veluzat, owner of decisions and ineptly implementing partment, the State's Environmen- would be the first to acknowledge
working in this disaster effort. CaU many movie company water trucks. novice measures. tal Protection Agency, Southern that.
• em at 259-1805 or visit their offices Andre connected with Jinks, and with
in the Kmart Center so they can take the animals of Hart Park, including If the city had a nickel for ev- California Gas Co. and Southern But the city did it.
advantage of your special skills. Anne the dozen or so buffalo at the foot of ery mistake it's made, it would be California Edison. In a time such as this, confu-
also reminded me to tell you that the hills, making sure they were wa-
sometimes the biggest need people tcrcd. Isn't it amazing what a network on easy street. Then again, so The hot lines have provided sion adds to the fear. We need
h ·e is to have someone to talk to or of well-placed friends will do? would I. quick access to emergency infor- people we can lean on, people
give them a hug.
And to help out local relief efforts, But not this time. mation. The numbers deserve re- who will lead us out of the con-
the SCV Canyons Preservation League This city has gone far above peating. They are: 286-4105, 4106, fusion. We need a steadying force.
has dedicated their fundraiser Wednes-
day night to the SCV bmnch of the the call to aid local residents. 4107, 4108, 4109, 4110, 4111, I know this sounds like a lot of
Red Cross. For only $35, you can The emergency center officials and 4112. hyperbole, but I think it's true.
enjoy a buffet dinner and a show at
the Laugh Factory on Sunset Blvd. set up in the City Hall parking lot Use those phone lines for any It's like that old saying: "You
hosted by Frazer Smitl1 of KLSX ra- is exemplary. Not only does it questions regarding the earthquake. discover a man's true colors in a
dio. Even though its over the hill, it's provide essential service, but it They are there for you to use. time of crisis."
a worthy cause - why not get a
bunch of people going and carpool? gives comfort to those who have The center has a computer cen- Well, I for one think the city's
Tickets and information available by been there as well. ter that tracks building inspections colors are true. Thanks.
calling 294-2500. Officials set it up an hour after and repair work being done
At any rate, for all you do, this
Miller's for you - Irwindale tap wa- the quake hit and was ready to throughout the city. The center Steve Whitmore is The Signal's
ter donated by the brewery - which, roll, pardon the pun. The center hands out water and other
by the . way, it takes five bottles of to city editor. His commentary ap-
make one pot of coffee. We're has representatives from the Santa emergency necessities. pears Tuesdays. He can be
surviving, Santa Clarita - here's Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station, But it's much more than a reached at 259-1234, ext. 235.
! ooking at you!
Carol Rock's society column ap-
pears Tuesdays.
-