State and federal leaders are asking President Barack Obama for a major disaster declaration for California following the damage the state suffered last month that was triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan.

Gov. Jerry Brown and North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) penned separate letters sent to Obama on Wednesday asking for the assistance for the state, which suffered $48 million in damage to ports, harbors, boats, businesses and infrastructure due to a water surge triggered by Japan's March 11 quake and tsunami.

That $48 million damage estimate, Brown said, exceeds California’s state threshold of $44 million as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and is adding to California's current economic crisis.

Thompson's letter to Obama supports Brown's requests.

“Last month’s tsunami caused significant damage to infrastructure up and down California’s coast,” Thompson said in a statement issued by his office. “Without assistance, I am extremely concerned that recovery efforts in affected communities, including those I represent, will languish. That’s why my colleagues and I are strongly urging the president to support Governor Brown’s request for a federal disaster declaration to help get local communities back on their feet.”

Brown's letter asks for additional federal resources to supplement state and local repair and recovery efforts.

It follows emergency proclamations Brown issued for Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, which his letter said were “significantly impacted,” with Del Norte and Santa Cruz reportedly hit hardest.

Brown's letter said the Crescent City Harbor, which last year generated crab and fish revenues of $12.5 million, sustained an estimated $19.9 million in eligible damage, and the Santa Cruz Port sustained an estimated $26.4 million in eligible damage.

The Santa Cruz Port District, whose businesses employ approximately 800 people, operates as a government-owned business, funded entirely by user fees and generates approximately $16.8 million annually for Santa Cruz County, Brown reported. The port district has reported that businesses in the harbor, and those dependent upon harbor operations, are experiencing a loss of almost $59,000 per day.

Brown also had issued an executive order issued to waive the waiting period for victims to apply for unemployment insurance, expedite the hiring of emergency and cleanup personnel and request state tax officials to accommodate those affected by the water surge.

He also reported that, since January 2010, California has received four major federal disaster declarations, had six fires declared under FEMA's Fire Management Assistance Grant Program, endured 20 events for which funds under the California Disaster Assistance Act were issued, and received four disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and seven U.S. Small Business Administration designations.

Thompson's letter, signed by 22 fellow members of the California Congressional Delegation, also asks Obama to provide California with federal disaster assistance. He said the funding would be used to repair and rebuild harbors and other damaged infrastructure, and to safeguard coastal communities from future losses.

The letter notes that more than 150 vessels have been damaged, and over 30 vessels have sunk. “Additionally, oil sheens have been reported, and the sunken vessels continue to pose the threat of substantial hazardous releases, as well as navigational dangers, that would exacerbate the economic devastation.”

The letter added, “California state authorities are working with local governments and the United States Coast Guard and have taken a proactive and timely response. Efforts to secure loose vessels, remove debris and sunken vessels, assess damages, and monitor coastal areas for oil sheens are fully underway. However, additional federal assistance is necessary to repair and rebuild harbors and other damaged infrastructure, as well as to safeguard our communities from future losses.”

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