Gallegly Says Clinton Pledged Storm Aid

SIMI VALLEY —  Congressman Elton Gallegly said Saturday that President Clinton has committed to helping Ventura County deal with economic hardships created by this winter’s El Nino storms.

After a meeting aboard Air Force One, parked on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport, Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) said Clinton also agreed to assist the county in taking steps to limit further losses.

“I received a firm commitment from him to make sure proper mitigation measures are taken to avoid further flood damage, especially in Santa Paula and Fillmore areas,” the 11-year veteran of the House said.

By some estimates, the amount of financial damage inflicted by a series of devastating storms in the county this winter has topped $50 million, much of it in agriculture.

Gallegly attributed some of those losses to environmental regulations that limit clearing of creeks and rivers, which he said caused local waterways to overflow onto farmlands.

The president also agreed to provide assistance to the more than 8,000 farm workers who have been unemployed this winter because of the heavy rainfall, Gallegly said.

Although the president did not give specifics on when the county would receive federal help, Gallegly said he is confident it will happen before the next big storm.