COMMENTARY
November 8, 2007

Fire Recovery Aide Amped Up by County Government

As printed in the San Diego Daily Transcript on Nov. 7, 2007

By Supervisor Pam Slater-Price

Recovering from the losses of a fire can put an enormous strain on fire victims.

The needs as the fires burn are so basic: shelter, food, water and a place to sleep. But in the aftermath, reality sets in and the needs grow in number and complexity.

County staff through my office and those of various departments will offer every available resource to fire victims to make sure those needs are met as quickly as possible.

The Local Assistance Centers throughout the region in Rancho Bernardo, Rancho San Diego, Ramona and Fallbrook are offering fire victims “one-stop shopping” for fire recovery.

And without question, these centers put all necessary and helpful information directly in front of the fire victims – including the various county departments that may make this process easier during a stressful and trying time.

I am also assisting residents in gaining access to this information and helping to cut through any “red tape.”

After a fire victim files an insurance claim, there are numerous ways the county can help in recovery.

The Health & Human Services Department offers scores of health services to fire victims. Aging & Independent Services can recommend assistance to seniors and disabled residents while Mental Health Services maintains a huge referral system and offers crisis counseling.

The Department of Environmental Health is providing information on temporary occupancy permits, building permits for houses on septic systems, and proper disinfecting of water wells. The department is also working with San Diego Gas & Electric Co. to get power restored to the area.

Safety of residents’ property is a top priority, as well as making sure to keep anyone from “squatting” on burned properties.

Also, the county is working with the state to coordinate fire debris removal from burned properties. A voluntary program would pay for the costs upfront for a contractor’s services and be reimbursed by homeowners’ insurance companies.

The Office of Housing and Community Development can assist in short-term housing referrals to help avoid artificially inflated costs, known as price gouging. The county District Attorney’s office encourages fire victims to report the crime of price gouging.

Building permit fees are being waived and permits are being expedited in the unincorporated areas for fire victims by the Department of Planning and Land Use to help folks get started on their rebuilding as soon as possible.

In addition, the offices of county Assessor, Recorder and County Clerk and Tax Assessor are offering immediate property reassessment until a house is rebuilt and property tax payment deferral. This applies in all areas.

And while the county staff can offer expert services, our community has shown up in droves to help evacuees and now, our fire victims.

One need that a volunteer could assist in is erosion control – which is necessary to prevent landslides if we experience heavy rains while the lands are still charred. The volunteer form is available on my Web site.

The county also has sandbags at the ready should the rains come before we get the erosion control measures in place.

All these resources and more are available at the Local Assistance Center, online at www.sdcountyrecovery.com or by calling our office for assistance.

Supervisor Pam Slater-Price represents the county’s Third District. Visit her Web site at www.pamslater.com.