Recovery Times FEMA CALIFORNIA Dec. 30, 2003 Vol. 2 Published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services Apply by Phone 800.621.FEMA (3362) TTY: 800.462.7585 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Mon. through Sat.,until Jan. 9 Apply by Phone 800.621.FEMA(3362) TTY: 800.462.7585 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Mon. through Sat.,until Jan. 9 Fireproof construction measures helped protect the home of the Stevens family, right, and their neighbors in the Stevenson Ranch development in the Santa Clarita area. FEMA photos by Todd Stevens and Michael Raphael Stevenson Ranch Built to Ward Off Fire The home of Todd and Karen Stevens and their five children, is nestled next to the Santa Susana Mountains in the Southern Oaks section of Stevenson Ranch in the Santa Clarita area of Los Angeles County. In October, a storm of embers, whipped by winds, rained down from hills next to the Stevens' home, but thanks to strict requirements for construction of planned developments in their area, their home and all the homes of their neighbors survived the ravages of the Simi Fire. Fortunately, the planned development where they live has a 200-foot-wide greenbelt around it, designed to ward off wildfires. Also the roofs were constructed of tiles and all portals, including fireplaces, were required to have spark arrestors. "There were plenty of embers flying around," said Karen Stevens, whose home backs up to hills set ablaze by one of 14 wildfires that burned nearly 739,000 acres in five Southern California counties. Airdrops were made on the wildfire as it came toward the two-story Stevens home, and firefighters literally surrounded the area. "The truth is, the whole community was planned to withstand fire," the mother of young children said. "The embers just dissipated. We were never nervous about losing our home." APPLY NOW FOR DISASTER AID State and federal disaster officials are urging residents and business own-ers who suffered damages from the recent wildfires in five disaster-declared counties – Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura – to register for assistance by the Jan.9 deadline. "We can't replace everything people lost in the wildfires, but we can give them the helping hand they need to get back on their feet," said State Coordinating Officer Dallas Jones of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Federal Coordinating Officer William Carwile, III of the Federal Emergency Management Agency added that fire victims should not wait for insurance settlements before registering for assistance to cover uninsured or underinsured losses. "Apply now to protect your ability to get help if you find out later that you need it," said Carwile. To register, homeowners, renters and business own-ers should call FEMA's toll- free line at 800-621-FEMA (3362). The TTY number is 800-462-7585. Cultivate fire-safe Landscaping Improper landscaping around homes in wildfire areas of Los Angeles County is worrisome because it can greatly increase the risk of fire damage. The amount of cleared space around a home is directly related to a home's ability to survive wildfire. Removal of grasses, brush, trees and other common fuels improves the odds that the structure will survive. State and federal fire officials offer the following guidance: Grasses: Mow grasses low in areas close to the house, garage, outbuildings, decks and trees with low-growing branches. You can gradually increase the height of grass that grows farther from these places, but it should be no higher than eight inches. Wildflowers: Tall, dense patches of wildflowers can be powerful fuel for fires, particularly when the flowers are in the dormant stage. Plant wildflowers in widely separated beds. The beds should be separated by gravel walkways, rock retaining walls or low grass areas. Do not place flowers near structures, unless beds are frequently irrigated and promptly removed when they become dormant. Shrubs: Shrubs in wildland fires can serve as "ladder fuels," enabling fire to travel from the ground into shrubs and from there to trees. Low-growing, non- resinous varieties of shrubs should be planted in small clumps away from each other and away from trees. Do not place them directly beneath windows or vents or where they might spread under wooden decks. Trees: Trees can be a significant source of firebrands and, when burning, can ignite nearby shrubs, trees or structures. Consult with local plant specialists on the best trees to plant in your area. When planting trees, do not place them near structures and allow plenty of room between trees. Fire Prevention Checklist The deadly wildfires that struck Southern California served as a reminder of the hidden dangers lurking in the forests and brush-covered open spaces and canyons surrounding homes and businesses. Trees and chaparral, normally valued as part of the natural environment, became fuel for fast-moving, wind-driven flames. Thousands were forced to evacuate, and 22 lost their lives. In the five disaster-declared counties, wildfires charred a total of 739,247 acres, destroyed 3,631 homes and damaged 152 others. If your home is near an area vulnerable to wildfires, you can take steps to limit the potential damage fire can do to your property. The U.S. Fire Administration offers the following tips. Fireproofing your property Keep lawns trimmed, leaves raked and the roof and rain gutters free from debris such as dead leaves. Stack firewood away from your house. Store flammable materials, liquids and solvents in metal containers at least 30 ft. away from structures and wooden fences. Thin trees and brush within 30 ft. around your home to create a "defensible space." Remove dead and low-hanging branches. For specific clearance requirements, check with local officials. Provide access for emergency vehicles by having properly constructed driveways and roadways at least 12 ft. wide and adequate turnaround space. Check with your local fire district. Protecting your home Use fire-resistant, protective roofing and materials such as stone, brick and metal. Avoid using wood, where possible. Cover all exterior vents, attics and eaves with metal mesh screens. Install multi-pane windows, tempered safety glass or fireproof shutters to protect large windows from radiant heat. Use fire-resistant draperies for added window protection. Have chimneys, wood stoves and all home heating systems inspected and cleaned annually by a certified specialist. Questions about FEMA assistance? Call: 800.621.FEMA (3362) TTY: 800.462.7585 BRUSH CLEARING HELPS LOS ANGELES Fight Wildfire Where developments meet the wildlands in the city of Los Angeles, brush is treated as a serious fire threat. City officials run the nation's largest urban brush control program. It's a strict inspection and abatement program designed to create defensible space for homes and other structures in a huge portion of the city of Los Angeles. That's what the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has been doing for years – controlling more than a third of the 450-square-mile city considered "high severity risk," much like wildlands to the north and west of the metropolitan area. Thirteen inspectors check about 139,000 parcels in the 165 square miles where brush clearance is done in May and September. "All properties located near wildland areas have the potential of being significantly impacted by wildfires in your area," said Mark Stormes, LAFD's coordinator for the brush-clearing program. The program focuses on improving the safety of residents and firefighters and "increasing your home's ability to withstand a major wildland fire in your area," said Stormes. Owners of high severity risk properties are expected to clear hazards before May when the brush clearance inspection sweep is made. Properties that do not pass second inspections are charged fees. Property owners are required to clear hazards within 200 feet of any structure. The area within 100 feet of a structure must be maintained to provide a "defensible space" where vegetation is less flammable and less dense. The defensible space allows firefighters to work around the structure while protecting it from fire. The area between 100 and 200 feet from a structure is the "fuel modification area." Plants must be thinned to reduce the likelihood that radiated heat from burning plants would ignite the structure. The fire department also recommends fire-resistant planting for new home construction in areas considered to be vulnerable to wildland fires. Flood Hazard Maps Available The dramatic increase in flood risks in and around areas burned by the wildfires has prompted disaster officials to create new flood hazard maps to help inform residents and local governments. The Post-Fire Advisory Flood Hazard Maps are available on the Internet at http://www.capostfirefloods.net. The maps do not replace the current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) for determining the flood insurance premiums. The cost of flood insurance for the burned areas will not be changed because of the temporary increase in the flood hazard. Although federal, state and local agencies are working on hills and mountainsides to protect property and lives, it may take three to five years for the vegetation to recover enough to counter the impact of the wildfires. The burned slopes, stripped of moisture-absorbing vegetation, accelerate the runoff. Residents and business owners in and around the burned areas in the disaster- declared counties are urged to buy flood insurance to help protect them from future flood and mudflow losses. For more information, call your county or city public works department. U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) Q&A Q. I registered with FEMA, then received a disaster loan application from SBA. Why? A. SBA is the main source of federal funds for long-term recovery assistance for disaster victims. For disaster damage to private property owned by individuals, families and businesses which is not fully covered by insurance, the basic form of federal assistance is a low-interest disaster loan from SBA. Q. How can I get help filling out my application for a disaster loan from SBA? A. SBA has loan officers in every disaster recovery center and SBA center to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster victims. You may visit SBA at any of these locations, and you do not need an appointment. To find out the nearest location, call the SBA toll-free number 800-488-5323. Q. I have some insurance coverage, but it won't be enough to pay for all the repairs. Can SBA help me? A. Yes. SBA disaster loans cover costs to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, less any amounts received from insurance or other sources. Many property owners have some insurance coverage, but it doesn't cover the full cost of making disaster repairs. SBA loans can cover these shortfalls, including the insurance deductible. Q. I have a mortgage on my home, so I can't afford a disaster loan in addition. Can SBA help me? A. In some cases, SBA can refinance your existing mortgage. By refinancing a prior mortgage, SBA can often make a loan with a monthly payment for both the repairs and the refinancing which is about the same as the mortgage payment before the disaster. Q. What happens if I cannot afford a loan? A. Even if you believe you cannot afford a loan, you must submit your completed loan application to SBA or you may not be considered for other forms of aid. A California Division of Forestry firefighter searches for hot spots in a section of wilderness burned by the recent Southern California fires. FEMA photo by Kevin Galvin A Good Time to Think about Flood Insurance The wildfires in Los Angeles County that stripped vegetation from hillsides have increased the risk of flooding and mudflows. One way to help protect yourself from the financial cost of such damage is to maintain a flood insurance policy. Home-owners' policies do not cover damage from rising waters. But you can take steps now to protect yourself from future flood losses. Flood insurance backed by the federal government is available to any homeowner, renter or business owner whose property is in a community that participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). To participate, the community must adopt and enforce local ordinances designed to reduce the risk of future flood losses. If you live in such a community, you can purchase flood insurance from any licensed insurance agent or company — the same one, for example, who handles your homeowners or automobile insurance. Premiums vary according to the flood risk your property is exposed to, the amount of coverage you purchase, the deductible you select and the type of building you are insuring. On a single-family home, you may purchase flood insurance coverage up to $250,000 on the structure and up to $100,000 on the contents. For business owners, the maximum is $500,000 on the building and $500,000 on contents. Renters can purchase up to $100,000 coverage for personal items. Some people resist buying flood insurance in the faulty belief that if flooding occurs, the government will bail them out. Federal disaster assistance is available only if a flood (or other disaster) is so large and widespread it warrants a major disaster declaration from the president or the administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Most floods are not federal disasters. In most floods, victims are on their own, unless they have flood insurance. Even for floods that are declared federal disasters, most assistance is in the form of SBA loans. Whether or not your home is in a floodplain, flood insurance is advisable, since floods can, and do, occur anywhere. For more information, contact your local insurance agent or company or call the NFIP toll-free number, 800-720-1090. LANDslides Pose Serious Threat After heavy rainfalls, residents should monitor rain-soaked hillsides for signs of slippage. The combination of heavy rainfall, steep slopes and loose soil can produce landslides or mud flows, often without warning. To be safe, assume that all drainage in steep areas is subject to dangerous mudflows, especially if the soil is loose and sandy. Warning signs of landslides include cracks opening in slopes of hills; evidence of the slow, downhill movement of rock and soil; tilting of trees, poles or walls; and visible changes in the slope, such as sags and bumps. Check outside your home for signs of walls, walks or stairs that begin pulling away from the building. Inside your home, warning signs can include doors or windows that stick or jam for the first time or new cracks that appear in plaster, tile, brick or foundations. If you have concerns or questions, call your local building officials immediately. Make sure disaster aid goes to those who deserve it.FEMA Fraud Hotline:800-323- 8603 Disaster recovery assistance is avail-able without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, contact FEMA at 800-621-FEMA (3362)TTY: 800-462-7585or contact the state equal rights office. Prepare a Family Disaster Plan It is a good idea to develop a plan of action for you and your family to prepare for the next wildfire or other type of disaster that could strike. Household emergency plans should be kept simple. The best emergency plans are those that are easy to remember. Identify family meeting places in case you are separated from each other. Choose a place in a building or park outside your neighborhood. Everyone should be clear about this location. Be familiar with escape routes. It may be necessary to evacuate your neighborhood. Plan several escape routes for different contingencies. Maintaining a link to the outside can be crucial. Keep a battery-operated radio and extra batteries on hand. Make sure that all family members know where the radio is kept. Post emergency phone numbers (fire, police, ambulance) by the telephone. Teach children how to call 911 for help. Teach household members how to turn off utilities. Develop an emergency communication plan. In case family members are separated from one another, develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family's contact. Make sure everyone knows the telephone number of this contact. Assemble a disaster supply kit with items you may need if advised to evacuate. Include the following: a three-day supply of water and food that won't spoil one change of clothing and footwear per person one sleeping bag per person a first-aid kit containing your family's necessary prescription medicines an extra pair of eyeglasses emergency tools an extra set of car keys a credit card or traveler's checks special items for infants, the elderly or disabled family members. Store disaster kit items in backpacks, dufflebags or other easy-to-carry containers. It's advisable to keep a smaller, more compact version of a disaster kit in your car. If you are warned that wildfire is threatening your area, activate your family disaster plan. Listen to your battery-operated radio for reports and evacuation information. Follow the instructions of local officials. Were you affected by the recent wildfires? Are you concerned that the fires may increase the risk of flooding to your property? The Web site for Los Angeles County offers a wealth of information that guides fire survivors to assistance programs and helps them prepare for future disasters. The site includes links to FEMA and other agencies involved in the recovery and provides a list of services and assistance available to residents in fire- stricken unincorporated areas as well as the city of Claremont. The information is available at http://lacounty.info/ Click on "Information Available for Fire Victims." FINDING COPIES OF YOUR LOST RECORDS As recovery gets under way, you will need records of your finances for short- and long-term financial planning. If your personal financial documents have been lost, you will need to find copies. Call your insurance agent or company to get copies of your insurance policies, recent billing statements, cash-value statements and other applicable information. Contact your local credit bureau and financial institutions (banks, credit union) for copies of credit reports, loan applications, bank statements or other such records. The IRS has copies of your tax records and filings for the last three years. For federal records, call 800-829-1040. The State Franchise Tax Board, which keeps individual state income tax records, can be reached by calling 800-852-5711. Recovery Times Recovery Times is published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services with help from other federal, state and voluntary agencies. Comments and inquiries may be directed to PH: 800.621.FEMA (3362) http://www.fema.gov DR1498 Federal Coordinating Officer WILLIAM L. CARWILE, III State Coordinating Officer DALLAS JONES Editor, FEMA, Public Affairs AILEEN COOPER Farmers May be Eligible For Disaster Aid Farmers and ranchers who suffered losses from the recent wildfires may be eligible for disaster assistance. For those in the five disaster-declared counties, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency offers emergency loans, the Emergency Conservation Program and the Tree Assistance Program. Emergency loans are designed to help producers recover the production and physical losses caused by the wildfires. To be eligible, the applicant must be an established family farmer or rancher and be able to provide collateral to secure the loan. The Emergency Conservation Program is designed to rehabilitate farmland damaged by the fires, specifically when the disaster causes new conservation problems. County FSA committees may set a cost-share level for an applicant of up to 64 percent. Emergency Conservation Program practices to rehabilitate the farmland may include debris removal; fence restoration; and grading, shaping and restoring conservation structures. Damage from fires caused by arson have not traditionally been eligible for Emergency Conservation Program assistance. Although most of the Southern Californiafires are suspected of resulting from arson, FSA officials say that in this case, the damage may still be eligible for assistance. Damage resulted not only from the initial blaze, whatever its cause, but from the difficulty in controlling wildfires fanned by high Santa Ana winds. The wind factor may be taken into account when considering eligibility. The Tree Assistance Program provides payments for eligible orchardists who produce annual crops from trees, bushes or vines for commercial purposes. Applicants must have suffered 15 percent or greater loss in mortality to qualify for a reimbursement of 75 percent of the cost of replanting trees destroyed by the wildfires. For on-line information, go to www.fsa.usda.gov and http://disaster.usda.gov. The Farm Service Agency office for Los Angeles County can be reached at 661-942- 9549 ext. 2. For disaster-related information visit FEMA on the Web @ www.fema.gov If you have to evacuate If your home is threatened by wildfire, you may be required by law enforcement officers to evacuate. If a wildfire is threatening your area, listen to your radio for updated reports and evacuation information. Gather your pets and make plans to take care of them in case you must leave your home on short notice. Arrange for temporary housing with friends or relatives who live outside the threatened area. Take important papers and mementos that are not stored in fireproof containers. Wear sturdy, protective clothing and take a change of clothing and shoes for each family member. Be sure you have a disaster supply kit and an extra set of car keys, credit cards and cash or traveler's checks. Choose a route away from the fire, if possible. Watch for changes in the speed and direction of fire and smoke. Keep the radio on for news about the path of the fire. Clip & Save FEDERAL AGENCIES FEMA Registration 800-621-FEMA (3362) TTY for hearing/speech impaired 800-462-7585 FEMA Fraud Detection 800-323-8603 National Flood Insurance Program 800-720-1090 U.S. Small Business Administration 800-488-5323 Social Security Administration 800-772-1213 Internal Revenue Service 800-829-1040 TTY for hearing/speech impaired 800-829-4059 Housing and Urban Development Hotline 800-669-9777 Dept. of Veterans Affairs 800-827-1000 STATE AGENCIES Dept. of Insurance 800-927-4357; 213-897-8921 Contractors State License Board Hotline 800-962-1125 Franchise Tax Board (Income Tax) 800-852-5711 Board of Equalization (Property Tax) 800-400-7115 Veterans Assistance (CALVET) 800-952-5626 Unemployment Insurance 800-300-5616; 800-326-8937 Disaster Legal Services Hotline 800-310-7029 Crisis Counseling 800-854-7771 Farm Service Agency 661-942-9549 ext. 2 VOLUNTEER AGENCIES American Red Cross 866-GET-INFO Salvation Army 317-937-7000