Mike Salsbury/The Olympian
Vance Aeschleman, disaster coordinator for the American Red Cross, speaks before a panel of officials at Friday's downtown meeting on earthquake relief.

Officials offer post-quake update

SCOTT WYLAND, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- An ensemble cast took the stage at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, drawing enough people to half-fill the auditorium floor.

But the group was on stage to inform, not perform.

A panel of federal, state and city officials was there to report on earthquake-recovery efforts and to answer questions about disaster-relief programs.

The audience was made up mostly of merchants and property owners affected by the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake that rocked much of Western Washington last week.

Had the earthquake hit an hour later -- at lunch time -- more people would have been on the streets, and more serious injuries could have occurred, Olympia Mayor Stan Biles said.

"Our greatest damage was structural and, because of that, we can fix it," Biles said.

The task now is to determine what needs to be rebuilt, then gather the resources to do it, Biles said.

Those affected by the quake can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds up to 60 days after the president declared a disaster, FEMA representative Ron Frabasilio said.

The Small Business Administration handles most disaster-related loans, both for home owners and businesses, said Bob Belloni, an SBA agent.

Some SBA programs that are available are:

-Loans for homeowners up to $200,000 at 3 percent interest.

-Business loans up to $1.5 million at 4 percent interest. The money can be used to repair damage to buildings, or to allay loss of business due to buildings or streets being closed.

-Loans up to $40,000 to offset loss of personal property.

-Rental assistance. This includes helping displaced residents pay for temporary lodging at a hotel.

Sizable loans might require collateral of $10,000, Belloni said. In some cases, loan payments can be deferred up to 18 months.

Disaster victims can also get temporary housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

And federal money may soon become available for restoring historic sites damaged in the earthquake.

Thirty-seven buildings are now yellow-tagged, which means restricted entry is allowed. The number should continue to drop, said Brian Washko, city building official.

Two structures remain red-tagged, he added.

So far, the city has inspected 235 buildings, he said.

City officials opened the meeting by giving updates on damage.

The Fourth Avenue bridge is shut down indefinitely, and the only way it will open is if it is reinforced with cribbing, said Tom Frare, a city project manager.

Meanwhile, the city is looking seriously at building a bypass bridge between the Fourth and Fifth avenue bridges, Frare said.

The city also is willing to help fix the state-owned Deschutes Parkway, Frare said.

About 56,000 motorists drove on Deschutes daily before it was closed, said Dave Riker, city transportation manager.

The road is a vital link between downtown and west Olympia, Riker said. "We're very much concerned about emergency services on the west side."

Riker said he would like to form an expressway for buses between downtown and the Westfield Shoppingtown Capital Mall.

But plans to build such a fast lane appear shelved for now, he said.

Scott Wyland is a business reporter for The Olympian. He can be reached at 357-0748 or scottolympian@yahoo.com.

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