California To Seek Federal Aid For Tsunami Damage

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) -- California emergency officials say they hope to complete a tsunami damage estimate as early as next week to submit to the federal government in an aid request for wave-battered harbors.

California Emergency Management Agency spokesman Brad Alexander told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that six counties are now part of the request for federal disaster aid.

Alexander says the agency is pegging the damage from last week's surging waters at $44 million, though the figure could rise.

Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order Friday to cut through red tape in state contracting, employment and unemployment aid to speed recovery.

The order applies to Santa Cruz, Del Norte, Mendocino, Humboldt, San Luis Obispo and San Mateo counties. Harbors in Santa Cruz, Crescent City and Fort Bragg were among the hardest-hit.

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