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Millions Doled Out To Southern California Wildfire Victims

Deadline To Apply For Federal, State Disaster Aid Nears

POSTED: 6:59 am PST December 23, 2007
UPDATED: 8:53 am PST December 23, 2007

The amount doled out in federal and state disaster assistance for wildfire damages throughout the Southland has passed $110 million, FEMA officials reported Saturday.

With the approval of a $41.4 million public assistance grant to Cal Fire, recovery assistance for damages and losses in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties now totals $114 million, officials said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing 75 percent -- $30.1 million -- of the grant for Cal Fire. The rest will come from the state of California, FEMA said.

The grant reimburses the state for regular employee overtime, equipment use and rental costs, contract labor, aircraft use, materials and similar costs incurred by other firefighting agencies that are part of the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

Currently, 18,605 Californians have registered for state and federal disaster assistance, the agency said. Another 14,960 FEMA registrants have visited assistance centers seeking disaster recovery help, and 8,139 FEMA inspections have been completed in disaster-designated counties.

Disaster assistance doled out to date includes:
  • $59 million in U.S. Small Business Administration loans to homeowners, renters and business owners;
  • $8.5 million in FEMA housing assistance grants for rental expenses, home repair or replacements;
  • $3.4 million from FEMA and the state for losses and damage to personal property; vehicular repair or replacement; moving expenses; and other disaster-related costs;
  • $1.7 million in approved California state supplemental grants from the state's Department of Social Services for those who have received the maximum grants for housing and other needs from FEMA and the state; and
  • $106, 399 in federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance funds disbursed by the state Employment Development Department to individuals unemployed by the wildfires.

    The deadline to apply for federal and state disaster assistance is Jan. 9, 2008. To contact FEMA for assistance, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

    The toll free hotline to apply for disaster relief will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time Monday through Saturday until the close of business on Jan. 9.

    The hotline will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

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