City Still Suffering From August Quake

An earthquake struck southern Colorado just before midnight on Aug. 22. It was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake, making it the largest earthquake to hit the state since 1967.

The earthquake resulting in several damaged homes, most of which were located in the city of Valdez. Valdez is located near the earthquake’s epicenter.

?It?s a real hardship. We worked 22 years on this, to make it our home and all of a sudden, 10 seconds destroyed it,? said Charlie Gumz. Gumz?s home was severely damaged in the earthquake.

Gumz said it is going to cost about $40,000 to fix his home, and he said he has taken out loans to cover the cost.

?We have to pay it all back, of course. We?re getting old enough where we should be retiring, not borrowing $40,000,? Gumz said.

A damage assessment was conducted Thursday morning. County Building Inspector Joe Richards said there was an opportunity for the residents to be offered low-interest loans.

Richards said in order to qualify for the loans, there would have to be 25 homes that had 40 percent of the actual value of the home damaged.

?But, the community I don?t think will meet the threshold for those funds,? said Richards.

?Why does it take 25? I?m an individual, and I have major damage. How am I going to pay for it?? Gumz asked, in response to learning of the threshold for the low-interest loans.

Richards said he is working on attaining relief for the earthquake victims. He said, ?I was in contact today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There is some grant money available depending on income up to $75,000. So, we?re working that avenue.?

Richards said attaining this money would be a big step forward, but he said there are other options that he would like to see explored.

?I?d actually like to see the community pull together — contractors, civic groups, churches, maybe adopt a family and get some of these items taken care of. Especially for the elderly and disabled,? said Richards