More Disaster Assistance OK'd For Three Counties
Release Date: November 13, 2003
Release Number: 1498-23
» More Information on California Wildfires
Pasadena, Calif. -- More state-federal assistance was promised today for three Southern California counties impacted by autumn wildfires.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that agencies in San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties are now eligible for additional funding under the Public Assistance program to repair infrastructure.
Agencies in those counties, plus Los Angeles and Riverside counties, are already eligible for funds to pay for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken during and after the fires.
FEMA pays for at least 75 percent of public assistance work, with the remaining share usually divided among state and local governments. Due to the magnitude of the wildfire disaster, California Governor Gray Davis signed an executive order authorizing the state to pay the entire amount of non-federal costs.
The new aid will provide funds for repair of roads, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, public utilities, and parks. Eligible applicants include state and local government agencies, certain private nonprofit entities, and Native American tribes.
FEMA and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services are holding public assistance briefings through November 20 for the five counties and state agencies, outlining how the agencies should proceed with their applications. Preliminary damage assessments on infrastructure in the five counties were completed earlier this month.
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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 13-Nov-2003 17:06:01