First steps for tsunami damage repairs in Moss Landing Harbor District approved

MOSS LANDING, Calif. (KION-TV) -- Local Emergency Declaration from Monterey County was approved by the Board of Supervisors to help with severe damages in the Moss Landing Harbor District caused by the Tonga Tsunami.

The cost for repairs exceeds roughly $3 million with destruction to pilings, docks, the harbor channel and infrastructure.

"The big-ticket items we know about are about 300 plus thousand dollars in damage," said Tommy Razecca, Harbor Master for the Moss Landing Harbor District. "What we're looking at now is the damage protentional to our shorelines, shoreline protection areas, and a possible need for dredging."

This declaration is only the first step in getting the money the harbor needs.

“There’s no guarantee we’re getting the money. We’re not getting the money through Monterey County, it would be through the state," said Razecca.

Some boat owners said that what they want to come out of the funding is to have the docks fixed.

The materials used for the floating dock such as wood and foam are going to continue to deteriorate over time.

At their current state, the docks won't be able to support the boats, especially if another tsunami were to come.

If the support system doesn't get fixed, damage from the boats floating away could be worse.

The next steps are for engineers to come in and survey the destruction but that could take a couple of weeks.

"Once we have all that information, then we’ll be in a better position to complete the applications that we need to try to secure the funding," said Razecca.

The Tonga Tsunami majorly affected the harbors in Santa Cruz as well and that county has also approved a Local Emergency Declaration.