'82 FLOOD VICTIM FEARS DISASTER COMING AGAIN : IF YOU NEED HELP.Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer Pat Allen envisions the El Nino storm systems predicted for this winter and feels trapped. Allen's Mint Canyon house was deluged and she lost a barn in the last big downpour. She can't rebuild the outbuilding outbuilding n. a structure not connected with the primary residence on a parcel of property. This may include a shed, garage, barn, cabana, pool house, or cottage. because Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County officials say federal restrictions won't allow it in the flood zone. Allen said, however, that her neighbors are getting permits to build concrete walls, swimming pools and other structures. To make matters worse, she can't get flood insurance Flood insurance denotes the specific insurance coverage against property loss from flooding. To determine risk factors for specific properties, insurers will often refer to topographical maps that denote lowlands and floodplains that are susceptible to flooding. for her house. The county, which allowed construction in the first place, isn't offering to buy her property, Allen noted. She said she is on edge, fearing this winter's destruction. ``We're just watching our investment wash away,'' she said. Allen has fired off angry letters to county Supervisor Michael Antonovich's office and to county Public Works Department Many governments worldwide have had departments or ministries referred to as the Public Works Department either formally or informally. In Australia: - New South Wales -
n.pr See Federal Emergency Management Agency. help us. Antonovich won't.'' County officials said the problem isn't as simple as Allen has portrayed it. Fences, for example, may be obtrusive ob·tru·sive adj. 1. Thrusting out; protruding: an obtrusive rock formation. 2. Tending to push self-assertively forward; brash: a spoiled child's obtrusive behavior. , large and in the middle of a flood zone, but property owners do not need permits to build them, said Dave Vannatta with Antonovich's office. Vannatta said he has been assured by the Public Works Department that there have been no permits, however, for new utility buildings or houses in the flood zone. ``What the department allows is for things that do not impede flood flow,'' Vannatta said. ``They have assured us that they do not issue building permits in flood hazard areas.'' They had better not, Allen said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical will not provide disaster relief money to the area if the county has allowed construction in areas considered federal flood hazard areas, she said. El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms waters off South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and causes global climate abnormalities, is expected to unleash the biggest storm in 150 years on California, a potential downpour that causes concern for just about any homeowner. But for Allen, whose house was underwater in the 1982 flood, the prospect brings fear and frustration that there's no way out. ``The only way I can get insurance is if my house is seven feet in the air,'' Allen said. ``I guess we were pretty naive. We trusted the county when we decided to move here. If they refuse to let people rebuild, they have to pay for the property.'' Despite Allen's claims, the county has only issued permits for the area where the projects meet required specifications, said Steve Burger, regional drainage engineer for the county. Burger said he could not comment on specific projects or properties. ``When a house is built, we review it,'' Burger said. ``We make sure it can be safely built in that area. Generally, all the homes are engineered and built to the proper standards. We do our best to make sure it's safe.'' One of the problems, however, might be with defining the flood plains. Burger said they can be surprisingly large, especially during the type of huge storm that occurs only once in a century or two. Then the flood plain ``can take up most of the bottom of a typical canyon,'' Burger said. County employees are available to remove any flood hazards in the coming months before the storm season. For information, call (805) 253-7218. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour AV edition only) A Lancaster public works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. crew clears gutters and vacuums storm drains along Lancaster Boulevard. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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