Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the President of the United States, urging his approval of Individual Assistance as part of the major disaster declaration for the Caldor Fire.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
As a result of the Caldor Fire, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved Public Assistance to assist public agencies. El Dorado County, in partnership with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), both value the partnership with FEMA. However, at this time the request for Individual Assistance is still being considered by FEMA creating ongoing uncertainty and additional hardship for individuals and families impacted by the Caldor Fire.
As detailed below, the raw demographic data pertaining to El Dorado County collectively is not a true reflection of the economic devastation caused by this event. The hardest hit community, Grizzly Flats, lost hundreds of residences, the Walt Tyler Elementary School, the Post Office, churches and numerous businesses. Critical water storage and distribution infrastructure of the Grizzly Flat Community Services District was also destroyed, disrupting the safe water supply for survivors.
The decimation of Grizzly Flats necessitates action by our federal partners as the survivors of the Caldor Fire face immense challenges to their recovery due to an overwhelming deficit of insurance coverage, extreme rebuild costs that are further exacerbated by COVID-19, and a severe shortage of housing inventory. Federal assistance is desperately needed to support survivors in their recovery and to ensure Grizzly Flats endures beyond the catastrophic Caldor Fire.
Cal OES diligently collaborated with El Dorado County officials to assess the residential impacts of the Caldor Fire and to analyze the demographics of the affected area. This analysis unveiled the notable distinction between the overall population of the county compared to those...
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