$58 Million In Southern California Disaster Aid
Release Date: November 24, 2003
Release Number: 1498-34
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PASADENA, Calif. -- More than $58 million in federal and state disaster assistance has been disbursed to five fire-stricken Southern California counties since the federal disaster declaration in October, disaster recovery officials reported today.
They urged people who suffered damage during the fires but haven't registered for assistance to call the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The speech- or hearing-impaired can call TTY 1-800-462-7585. The lines are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $44 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes.
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Housing assistance checks totaling $3.8 million have been approved to help with temporary housing and essential home repairs.
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Payments totaling nearly $10 million have been approved to help with other needs such as replacing personal property, and medical, dental, funeral, transportation, moving and storage expenses.
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The State of California Department of Social Services has approved a total of 65 State Supplemental Grants totaling $561,000.
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The FEMA Helpline has received more than 5,300 calls from people seeking guidance, information and referrals.
- FEMA inspectors have completed more than 5,000 inspections of fire-damaged properties.
More than 16,500 people have registered for aid since fire swept through Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties in October. President George W. Bush made assistance available through the October 27 and 30 major disaster declarations at the request of former California Governor Gray Daivs.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California's readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
A county-by-county breakdown of assistance awards to date:
| County | Registrations | Housing | Other Needs Assistance Approved | Total Assistance Approved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 1,203 | $59,255 | $234,267 | $293,522 |
| Riverside | 122 | $38,445 | $90,464 | $128,909 |
| San Bernardino | 8,372 | $865,515 | $2,472,230 | $3,337,745 |
| San Diego | 6,504 | $2,800,700 | $7,016,210 | $9,816,910 |
| Ventura | 258 | $60,760 | $150,343 | $211,103 |
| Totals: | 16,459 | $3,824,675 | $9,963,514 | $13,788,189 |
Last Modified: Monday, 24-Nov-2003 08:35:11