Sonoma County quake damage estimate grows

Sonoma County on Tuesday revised damage estimates from August’s Napa earthquake, putting the county’s total between $4.4 million and $5.3 million, according to Peter Rumble, the county’s deputy county administrator.

The magnitude-6.0 temblor, centered near American Canyon, struck at 3:20 a.m. Aug. 24 and has caused at least $400 million in destruction to government property, homes and businesses in Napa County.

Hours after the earthquake hit, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Under guidelines established for state and federal emergency assistance, an affected area must provide an estimate on how much damage it has suffered in order to receive benefits and resources like federal and state loans and other assistance. County officials have said they needed to provide information as soon as possible but that it took some time to receive and confirm reports.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.