LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is continuing its work to register those impacted by the state's major wildland fires, including the Valley fire in Lake County.
A Sept. 22 presidential major disaster declaration granted by President Barack Obama activated the federal response and assistance from FEMA and the Small Business Administration in Lake County for the Valley fire.
The following day, the Butte fire in Calaveras County was added to the disaster declaration.
Between Lake and Calaveras counties, FEMA staffers have taken 2,861 registrations to date. Of those, 2,046 are in Lake County, according to FEMA spokesman Steven Solomon.
Fire victims have until Nov. 23 to register for FEMA assistance. At the same time, Solomon said those impacted by the fire are urged to file their insurance claims so that the eligibility for the federal assistance can be determined.
The federal assistance is aimed at the uninsured and underinsured, Solomon said.
He said 22 FEMA inspectors have conducted 1,591 inspections for both Lake and Calaveras counties.
Between the two counties, approximately $1.7 million in housing assistance and $648,000 for other needs has been disbursed. Solomon did not have available a breakdown of funds disbursed only in Lake County.
One of the latest developments in the FEMA response is that disaster assistance teams are now going out into neighborhoods in both Lake and Calaveras counties to try to find fire victims who may not have registered yet for assistance, Solomon said.
In the field, the full registration process can take place with the help of those teams, said Solomon.
He said community members who have concerns about being approached by someone claiming to be from FEMA should ask to see photo identification badges.
Two FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers also are available at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. and at 14860 Olympic Drive, Clearlake.
Hours for both centers are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
To register, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov ; use a Web-enabled mobile device at http://m.fema.gov ; or call 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585, 711 or for Video Relay Service (VRS) call 800-621-3362.
Solomon said FEMA will remain in Lake County as long as it takes to reach every eligible Valley fire survivor and ensure that they get the access they need to federal assistance.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
FEMA deploys teams to expand registration for wildfire survivors
- Elizabeth Larson
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