DISASTER AID TOPS $30 MILLION 13,446 REGISTER FOR HELP AFTER FIERCE FIRES HIT.Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer Following the horrific wildfires that recently scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , federal disaster relief has exceeded $30 million in two weeks, officials said Wednesday. The news came as flash floods pounded cities throughout Los Angeles County on Wednesday evening and people stocked up on sandbags sandbags small sacks containing sand used to support an anesthetized animal in dorsal recumbency and prevent it from rolling sideways during anesthesia or surgery. to protect their homes from mudslides and runoff from areas burned in the fires. Last month's wildfires swept through Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties, burning 747,000 acres, destroying 3,626 homes and 1,184 outbuildings and killing 22 people. The Federal Emergency Management Agency The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency responsible for coordinating emergency planning, preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery. The agency works closely with state and local governments by funding emergency programs and providing technical has approved $3 million for temporary housing and essential home repairs and $6.3 million for other needs such as medical, dental, funeral, transportation, moving and storage expenses and replacement of furniture and appliances lost in the fires. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $21.7 million in low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses, including $19.6 million for 134 homeowners and renters and $2.1 million for 30 business owners. So far, 13,446 people have registered for help in the five-county region affected by the fires, and FEMA FEMA, n.pr See Federal Emergency Management Agency. officials urged others in need to call 800-621-FEMA (3362). FEMA inspectors have completed 3,498 inspections of fire-damaged properties. ``We want to make sure everyone knows that by making that one phone call it starts the assistance process,'' said SBA SBA abbr. Small Business Administration Noun 1. SBA - an independent agency of the United States government that protects the interests of small businesses and ensures that they receive a fair share of government spokesman Ken Shuman. ``Basically what that does is allow people to make one phone call and get registered for all of the multiple aid programs that are available from local and federal agencies. State officials estimate the fires caused at least $2 billion in damage to the economy, and that the costs of firefighting will top $180 million. Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La Chief Michael Freeman said he's spent $4.5 million fighting fires inside the county and $8.2 million fighting fires in surrounding counties. The Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. did not have estimates on Wednesday. The Ventura County Fire Department Not to be confused with Ventura Fire Department. The Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, California, and for six other cities within the county. estimated it spent $9.8 million fighting the Simi Fire that burned 108,204 acres. Officials estimated $7.7 million in structural damage to buildings, $7.7 million in agricultural losses and $5.5 million in other property destroyed. In Los Angeles County, FEMA housing assistance totaled $42,626 and other needs amounted to $158,667. In Ventura County, housing assistance totaled $51,557 and other needs, $116,165. In San Bernardino County, housing assistance totaled $692,825 and other needs, $1,456,129. For other information on county services available to fire victims and locations of one-stop disaster assistance centers in Camarillo and Claremont, call 800-980-4990. Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com |
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