The owners of vehicles damaged at UCLA parking garages by last week’s flood are expected to begin retrieving them today.
The university announced Monday that it has established a loan-assistance program for students and staff whose vehicles were damaged.
Information on the program is available the Campus Human Resources website at www.chr.ucla.edu.
Sunset Boulevard was reopened Monday, six days after being closed down by a 20-million-gallon flood that resulted from a water main rupture and also inundated parts of the UCLA campus.
Roughly 900 vehicles were stranded in garages No. 4 and No. 7 at UCLA after the pipe break. Most of them remained dry but about 400 were left in standing water to varying depths. A fleet of tow trucks ferried the cars to another parking lot at the south end of the campus starting Friday.
Water-damaged vehicles were first inspected by DWP insurance adjusters before leaving the parking structures.
Owners of non-damaged vehicles began picking up their vehicles last week, but owners of vehicles that were water-logged are expected to begin claiming them today. The most seriously damaged vehicles were taken to an area near Jackie Robinson Stadium on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus.
The post-rupture repairs involved the placement of 400 tons of sand and 540 tons of crushed aggregate base into the sinkhole scoured out on Sunset Boulevard by the million gallons of Owens Valley water that flowed from the 92-year-old pipes a week ago today, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and power.
But street repairs are not quite complete.
“Motorists will be required to travel at reduced speeds this week on the affected part of the street,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said when he announced the reopening of Sunset at 1:30 a.m. Monday. “Additionally, this section of Sunset Boulevard will be closed during the overnight hours on Friday Aug. 8, Saturday Aug. 9 and if necessary Sunday Aug. 10 so city crews can work on final repairs.”
The mayor said residents who experienced property damage should visit www.ladwp.com/claims or call (213) 367-4600 “for the latest information and forms.” He said the DWP recommends that car owners go through their insurance companies and the DWP will work with insurance companies to waive deductibles.
The damage to the floor of UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion prompted the Teen Choice Awards, scheduled for Sunday, to relocate to the Shrine Auditorium, organizers said.
The floors should be replaced under Pauley and the John Wooden Center by early November, UCLA officials said.
“I am very happy to learn that Pauley Pavilion will be ready for the UCLA men’s and women’s basketball season,” Garcetti said.
