On Nov. 19, President George W. Bush made a major disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to be channeled to California communities struck by the wildfires.
Since then, about 170 Santa Barbara County homeowners affected by the Tea Fire have applied for aid, said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesman Don Daniel.
Currently, federal funding is available to disaster victims in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Santa Barbara counties.
Available assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the fires.
Federal funding is also available to state and eligible local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Daniel said residents don’t have to visit a Local Assistance Center to apply for aid.
He said the easiest way for residents and business owners who sustained losses in the fires to apply for help is online at fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) (1-800-462-7585 for the hearing and speech impaired). The toll-free telephone numbers will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
People who have registered with the American Red Cross or other agencies must also register with FEMA to gain access to federal and state aid. FEMA and the state don’t duplicate losses covered by insurance.
Residents registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information, such as name, permanent address, phone number, Social Security number, insurance coverage, and other facts that help substantiate losses.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 3, 2008.