$10.6 Million in the Hands of California Wildfire Victims
More than $1.3 approved for state grants and more than $42.5 million approved for SBA loans
Release Date: November 30, 2007
Release Number: 1731-055
» More Information on California Wildfires
PASADENA, Calif. -- Five weeks after the California wildfires, more than $10.6 million, for housing and other disaster-related needs, is in the hands of Californians who live in the disaster-designated counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
Individual assistance (for disaster victims) is available in the counties listed above as well as public assistance (for state, county and local governments) for emergency work such as debris removal and reimbursement for protective measures. President Bush amended the Oct. 24 declaration on Nov. 8 to allow the counties of Orange, San Bernardino and San Diego to apply for additional assistance for public work, such as road repair, public utilities, public buildings, and public parks.
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Disaster assistance summary:
- $7.5 million - Housing assistance grants for rental expenses, home repair or replacement.
- $3.1 million - Other needs assistance grants for losses and damage to personal property; vehicle repair or replacement; moving expenses; and other disaster-related costs.
- $42.5 million - Approved SBA low-interest loans.
- $1.3 million - Approved California State Supplemental Grants (for those who have received the maximum grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of California.
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18,166 Californians have registered for state and federal disaster assistance online at www.fema.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Phone lines are open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily.
The deadline to apply for federal and state disaster assistance is Jan. 9, 2007.
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Those who have registered are reminded to call FEMA to report any changes in personal or insurance information. Wildfire victims also can update their information online at: www.fema.gov/assistance/process/update_assistance.shtm.
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7,786 FEMA inspections have been completed in the disaster-designated counties.
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13,791 people have visited assistance centers seeking disaster assistance and mitigation information in English and many other languages. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) representatives are onsite to assist with loan applications for homeowners, renters and business owners.
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18,025 residents and 5,249 businesses have received disaster assistance information from FEMA's Community Relations teams.
- Crisis counseling for victims of the recent Southern California wildfires is available. Those who may be feeling overwhelmed as a result of the wildfires or need disaster-related counseling may call the hotline number for their county:
Los Angeles (800) 854-7771
Orange (866) 830-6011
Riverside (800) 706-7500
San Bernardino (888) 743-1478
San Diego (800) 479-3339
Santa Barbara (888) 868-1649
Ventura (800) 671-0887 - People living or working in the seven disaster-designated counties whose jobs were affected by the California wildfires may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from the California State Employment Development Department. The deadline to apply is Jan. 9, 2008.
The fastest and easiest option for individuals to file claims for DUA benefits is online at www.edd.ca.gov/fleclaim.htm.
Claimants can also file by telephone:
English.................................... 1-800-300-5616
Spanish.................................... 1-800-326-8937
Cantonese.................................... 1-800-547-3506
Mandarin.................................... 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese.................................... 1-800-547-2058
TTY (non-voice)...................... 1-800-815-9387 -
The California State Bar has a legal assistance hotline at 1-866-636-9041. Wildfire victims can call the line with disaster-related basic legal questions, such as those on replacing lost documents, housing-landlord-tenant disputes, and insurance issues.
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A local assistance center, to serve those affected by the Malibu fire, has opened in Malibu at the Malibu Bluffs Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. The center will operate through Friday, December 7.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Monday, 03-Dec-2007 04:39:41