Federal Government Approves California Governor's Request for Disaster Declaration to Assist Angora Fire Victims

07/05/2007 -- At the request of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today declared El Dorado County a disaster area. The declaration will make SBA Disaster Loan Program assistance available to Angora Fire victims.

“Victims of the Angora Wildfire have suffered tremendously from this wildfire,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Families have lost their homes and possessions and this disaster declaration will greatly help them to restart their lives and overcome the devastation of this fire. I am very pleased that we were able to act so quickly, on the local, state and federal levels of government, to help these victims recover.”

As a result of this disaster, El Dorado County proclaimed a local emergency June 24, 2007, and subsequently requested state and federal assistance by a separate proclamation issued June 25, 2007. In response to El Dorado County’s request, a proclamation for a State of Emergency was issued on June 25, 2007. Governor Schwarzenegger also toured the fire zone the next day to see first hand the devastation that was caused. The same day, the Governor announced the establishment of a Local Assistance Center to help provide state and local services to assist victims displaced by the wildfire, suffering property loss and economic and other damages.

To further assist victims of the Angora Fire, Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday sent a letter to the Office of Disaster Assistance Director under the U.S. SBA requesting a disaster declaration for El Dorado County. The request was granted today by the U.S. SBA and covers El Dorado County, the neighboring counties of Alpine, Amador, Placer and Sacramento and Douglas County in Nevada. This disaster declaration will qualify victims of the Angora Fire for low income loans of up to $200,000 for homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. As well as, homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The loans are available for homeowners, renters and business owners whose property was damaged or destroyed in the fire.

Governor Schwarzenegger also issued two executive orders to help victims of the wildfire recover. On June 27, 2007, he issued an executive order to assist individuals that suffered losses by waiving fees for replacing state documents lost in the fire including vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses and birth certificates. And, another executive order on July 2, 2007 to help victims clean up and rebuild as quickly as possible by streamlining, and in some cases suspending, certain state rules regarding the removal and disposal of both hazardous and non-hazardous debris as well as dead and dying trees.

The Angora Fire began on June 24, 2007 in the North Upper Truckee area in South Lake Tahoe, California and was fully contained on July 2, 2007. The fire burned a total of 3,100 acres and destroyed 254 homes.

Source: California Governor