WE'LL CALL THIS HEARING TO ORDER
. AND WITH THAT GOOD AFTERNOON
AND WELCOME EVERYONE. I'M
ASSEMBLY MEMBER OF FREDDIE
RODRIGUEZ, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR
JOINING US TODAY AS I LOOK
FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE HEARING.
THIS FIRST HEARING WE HAVE IS
COMMUNITIES RECOVERING FROM
DISASTERS. AS YOU KNOW, AND I
SAY MANY TIMES BEFORE CALIFORNIA
IS A DISASTER PRONE STATE. WE
EXPERIENCE YEAR ROUND EMERGENCY
RISK, OFTEN ONE RIGHT AFTER THE
OTHER AS OUR EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS MOVE FROM DISASTER TO
DISASTER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
REVISIT SOME OF THE HARDEST HIT
LOCATIONS AND EVALUATE THE
RECOVERY. DESPITE OUR BEST
EFFORTS, PEOPLE ARE BEING LEFT
BEHIND. A FEW WEEKS AGO, I
TOURED THE TOWN OF PARADISE FIVE
YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATING
CAMPFIRE. WHILE PARADISE
CONTINUES TO BUILD BACK, THEY
STILL FACE ISSUES SUCH AS THE
LACK OF FUNDING FOR A CENTRAL
SEWER SYSTEM AND LOW HOUSING
STOCK. ADDITIONALLY I VISIT THE
EVACUATION SHELTER IN
WATSONVILLE SOON AFTER THE
COMMITTEE OF BAJOR WAS FLOODED
MONTHS AFTER THE FLOODS, THERE
WERE TOO MANY DISPLACED FAMILIES
WITH UNMET NEEDS A PROBLEM THAT
STILL REMAINS TRUE. FURTHERMORE
THIS COMMUNITY IS HOME TO A
SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY OF
UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS
SUPPORTING OUR AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMY. RURAL COMMUNITIES.
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE OFTEN
DIS APPROPRIATELY IMPACTED BY
DISASTERS. HOWEVER FEDERAL FUNDS
CANNOT LEGALLY BE DIRECTED TO
UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE AND FEDERAL
RULES ALSO REQUIRE A VERY HIGH
THRESHOLD OF DAMAGE TO QUALIFY
FOR FEDERAL AID. THIS MEANS THAT
DISASTERS IN LESS DENSE RURAL
AREAS CAN FAIL TO QUALIFY,
PUTTING CRITICAL AID OUT OF
REACH FOR DEVASTATED FAMILIES
AND INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE PLACES.
WE'RE HOPING TO ADDRESS THESE
PROBLEMS THIS YEAR THROUGH
LEGISLATION. THESE BILLS INCLUDE
OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE BILL A B 2660, WHICH
WILL REQUIRE èC Ó E S¼ TO
DIRECT MORE FEDERAL GRANT MONEY
TO LOCALS. AND ALSO A B 2776
WOULD WOULD PRIORITIZE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING
RECOVERY PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES
THAT SUFFERED POPULATION AND
BUSINESS LOSS IN A DECLARED
MAJOR FEDERAL DISASTER. BUT
REDIRECTING EXISTING FUNDS WILL
ONLY TAKE US SO FAR. WE ALSO
NEED TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED
SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR DISASTER
RELIEF TO FILL THE GAPS LEFT BY
EXISTING STATE AND FEDERAL
PROGRAMS. THIS IS WHY I'M ALSO
RUNNING A B 1786, WHICH WOULD
CREATE TWO DISASTER RELIEF
PROGRAMS TO HELP UNDERSERVE
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES QUICKLY RECOVER FROM
DISASTERS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
WHILE THESE ARE THE INITIAL
SOLUTIONS MYSELF AND MY
COMMITTEE ARE PRESENTING, I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM
ALL OF OUR PANELISTS FOR
ADDITIONAL WAYS WE CAN HELP
COMMUNITIES RECOVERY. RECOVER
LET US WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE
THE BEST PRACTICES ARE
IMPLEMENTED AND SUPPORTED SO
THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE
AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA. I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM OUR PANELISTS ON
HOW CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES ARE
REBUILDING AND RECOVERING FROM
DISASTERS AND LESSONS LEARNED
AND HOW WE CAN ADDRESS ANY UNMET
NEEDS. THAT SAID I WANTED TO
OPEN IT UP FOR ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUE MEMBERS HERE HAVE ANY
OPENING REMARKS. AND SEE NONE.
GREAT LET'S GO TO OUR FIRST
PANEL AS A REMINDER WE WILL HOLD
QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE
PRESENTATIONS. OUR FIRST PANEL.
WE WERE FIRST WE'LL HEAR FROM
EDWARD FLORES AND INGRID
BROSTROM FROM THE U, èC MERCED
COMMUNITY AND LABOR CENTER. SO
WITH THAT. YOU CAN GO AHEAD. AND
I HAVE. THANK YOU TO THE
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. SENATOR. I OH, IS
IT THERE? I THINK I THINK IT'S
ON NOW. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU TO THE CALIFORNIA
ASSEMBLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF
THE COM E, èC MERCED COMMUNITY
AND LABOR CENTER. LAST YEAR
FOLLOWING A MAJOR FLOOD DISASTER
IN GRANADA. OUR CENTER CONDUCTED
A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
THE BLAENAU COMMUNITY NEEDS
ASSESSMENT ESTIMATED RESIDENTS
UNMET NEED FROM FEDERAL AID AND
LED TO A MAJOR STATE ALLOCATION.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SHARE OUR
EXPERIENCE FROM THAT STUDY AND
TO SHARE REFLECTIONS FOR
IMPROVED DISASTER RESPONSE
PLANNING IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. BONA LOCATED IN
SOUTHEAST MERCED COUNTY, IS A
RURAL, UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY
OF ROUGHLY 1000 HOMES AND 3700
RESIDENTS ON JANUARY 9TH 2020
THREE HEAVY ATMOSPHERIC RAINS
INUNDATED SOUTHEAST MES COUNTY.
THE LOCAL LEVY SYSTEM FAILED AND
A MAJOR FLOOD DISASTER ENSUED.
BLAENAU RESIDENTS EXPERIENCED
PROFOUND LOSSES FROM THEN
CALCULABLE. VALUE OF PERSONAL
BELONGINGS LOST TO DAMAGED
HOMES, VEHICLES LOST AND TIME
LOST AT WORK. UM, NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. YET THE SCALE OF THESE
LOSSES WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD IN A
SYSTEMIC FASHION. NEXT SLIDE. IN
RESPONSE TO THE WIDESPREAD
HARDSHIP ON APRIL 15TH 2020
THREE, SEVERAL STATE AND LOCAL
PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS MET IN GRANADA TO
DISCUSS UNMET NEEDS STEMMING
FROM THE FLOOD DISASTER. AT THE
MEETING, COMMUNITY MEMBERS
SHARED THAT MANY RESIDENTS WERE
UNDOCUMENTED AND THAT THERE WERE
GAPS BETWEEN WHAT FEDERAL
DISASTER AID PROVIDED FOR AND
WHAT RESIDENTS NEEDED. IN RETURN
, PUBLIC OFFICIALS EXPRESSED
FRUSTRATION WITH THE LACK OF
RELIABLE ESTIMATES OF OTHER
RESIDENTS. UNMET NEED NEXT
SLIDE. FOLLOWING THE APRIL 15TH
MEETING. OUR CENTER MET WITH THE
LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TO
DEVELOP AND EXECUTE THE PDA
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT
SURVEY TO ESTIMATE RESIDENTS
UNMET NEED FROM FEDERAL AID
FOLLOWING THE DISASTER WE
DEVELOPED A SURVEY INSTRUMENT
DESIGNED A HOUSEHOLD
REPRESENTATIVE. SAMPLING METHOD
RECEIVED INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW
BOARD APPROVAL AND TRAINED OVER
A DOZEN COMMUNITY OUTREACH
WORKERS AS SOCIAL SCIENCE SURVEY
INTERVIEWERS. WE SPENT TWO FULL
DAYS IN THE FIELDS, COLLECTING
SURVEYS FROM 206 OUT OF BLANAS
1016 HOUSEHOLDS. WE THEN ANALYZE
THE RESULTS AND PUBLISH THEM AS
A RESEARCH AND POLICY BRIEF ON
OUR WEBSITE DISASTER RESPONSE.
NEXT SLIDE. THE PANDA STUDY
FOUND THAT 80 3% OF PLANE
HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCE AT LEAST
ONE FORM OF ECONOMIC LOSS F
FOLLOWING THE FLOOD THAT 41% OF
HOUSEHOLDS WITH FLOOD DAMAGED
PROPERTY REPORTED BEING
INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER
AID AND THAT 57% OF WORKER
HOUSEHOLDS WHO EXPERIENCE JOB
LOSS. REPORTED BEING INELIGIBLE
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. WE
ALSO SPECIFICALLY ESTIMATED THE
AMOUNT NEEDED TO CLOSE THE GAP
OF UNMET NEED FOR FUNDING
ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS HOME
INSPECTION. HOME RE MEDIATION.
VEHICLES. INFRASTRUCTURE. AND
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND
COMMUNITY OUTREACH. NEXT SLIDE.
WE PRESENTED THE FINDINGS TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT A TOWN
HALL, WHERE THEY DELIBERATED
UPON THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE
DIFFERENT IDENTIFIED AND
ESTIMATED UNMET NEEDS. THE
RESULTS INFORMED A $20 MILLION
BUDGET REQUEST THAT WAS
SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED BY STATE
SENATOR ANA CABALLERO AND
ASSEMBLY MEMBER UM ESMERALDA SOA
AND A $20 MILLION BUDGET REQUEST
THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED
BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROBERT ES FOR
A SIMILAR DISASTER IN PAJARO. SO
I'D LIKE TO QUOTE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. OH, SORRY. NEXT SLIDE
AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO CLOSE WITH A
COUPLE OF REFLECTIONS ON WHAT WE
LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE.
AND WHAT COULD IT WHAT IT COULD
MEAN FOR THE REST OF THE STATE.
FIRST ALL THE CALIFORNIA HAS THE
FIFTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE
WORLD. MANY OF ITS RESIDENTS
LACK ACCESS TO FEDERAL AID AND
THE ECONOMIC SAFETY NET. OVER 1
MILLION CALIFORNIA WORKERS
ANNUALLY CONTRIBUTE AN ESTIMATED
$3.7 BILLION IN LOCAL AND STATE
TAXES YET ARE INELIGIBLE FOR
FEDERAL AID. AS GLOBAL WARMING
INCREASES CLIMATE RELATED
DISASTERS, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN EVER FOR THE STATE TO BEGIN
CREATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE. FOR
AN ECONOMIC SAFETY NET FOR ALL.
SECOND NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKERS WHO
COLLECTED SURVEYS DURING THE PDA
COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT OFTEN
PLAY CRITICAL ROLES DURING MAJOR
PUBLIC DISASTERS IN CALIFORNIA.
OUR CENTER'S RESEARCH BRIEF
RESPONDING TO A PUBLIC HEALTH
DISASTER EXAMINES THEIR VALUABLE
SKILLS, BUT ALSO THE MAJOR
EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES THEY FACE
AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
PROFESSIONALIZING THEIR WORK AND
STABILIZING AN IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF THE STATE'S
DISASTER RESPONSE
INFRASTRUCTURE. NEXT SLIDE.
THIRD PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, UM,
SUCH AS DISASTER ASSISTANCE
TEAMS LOCATED IN LOCAL AGENCIES
ACROSS THE STATE AND PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES MIGHT FOLLOW THE
SAME METHODS. WE FOLLOWED TO
PRODUCE RELIABLE ESTIMATES OF
UNMET NEED AND INFORM THE
STATE'S RESPONSE TO MAJOR
DISASTERS TURN. OUR CENTER HAS
DESIGNED A DISASTER RESEARCH
TOOLKIT CALLED RAPID ASSESSMENT
OF UNMET NEED, WHICH IS NOW ON
OUR WEBSITE FOR ANYONE TO USE MY
COLLEAGUE INGRID BRAS FROM NOW
SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
TOOLKIT. THANK YOU. YOU CAN, UH,
GO TO THE OTHER. SLIDE DECK IF
YOU HAVE IT. GREAT AND, UH, YOU
CAN SET IN ACTUALLY THE SECOND
SLIDE. MM. HARD TO READ. UM GOOD
AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE TODAY THE CLIMATE
CRISIS IS ACCELERATING THE
FREQUENCY OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
THESE DISASTERS DO NOT AFFECT
EVERYONE EQUALLY. MARGINALIZED
RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT
BARRIERS TO FEDERAL DISASTER AID
DUE TO DIFFICULTIES WITH ACCESS
AND ELIGIBILITY. AT RISK
POPULATIONS, UH, INCLUDE
UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. ELDERLY OR
DISABLED RESIDENTS,
LINGUISTICALLY OR GEOGRAPHICALLY
ISOLATED POPULATIONS AND
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. MANY
INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS UNDOCUMENTED
RESIDENTS AND THOSE WITHOUT A
VERIFIABLE ADDRESS, MAYBE
INELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER
AID ENTIRELY. IN THE CASE OF PDA
BARRIERS TO FEDERAL AID AFFECTED
NEARLY ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE
RESIDENTS. THE INABILITY TO
RECEIVE AID NOT ONLY DEVASTATES
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. BUT IT
ALSO HAS BROAD IMPLICATIONS FOR
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. RESIDENTS
WHO ARE DISPLACED OR FORCED INTO
POVERTY. AFTER A DISASTER. I
IMPACT EVERY FACET OF COMMUNITY
LIFE FROM THE LOCAL ECONOMY TO
SCHOOL FUNDING TO LOCAL
INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS DISASTER
RESPONSE TOOLKIT IS DESIGNED TO
HELP STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ADDRESS FUNDING GAPS WHEN
FEDERAL AID DOES NOT FULLY COVER
PROPERTY AND INCOME LOSS AFTER A
DISASTER. ESTIMATING LOSSES
AFTER A DISASTER CAN BE A
LENGTHY AND COMPLICATED PROCESS.
WHICH ONLY FURTHER EXACERBATES
BURDENS FACING VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS. THIS TOOLKIT IS
INTENDED TO STREAMLINE THE
DISASTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT
PROCESS THROUGH REPRESENTATIVE
SAMPLING. A WELL DESIGNED
REPRESENTATIVE SURVEY CAN
PROVIDE RELIABLE ESTIMATES
EQUIVALENT TO A FULL POPULATION
SURVEY IN A FRACTION OF THE
TIME. THE TOOLKIT PROVIDES A
STEP TO STEP BY STEP GUIDE. ON
HOW TO RAPIDLY OBSESS UNMET NEED
THROUGH FOUR IMPLEMENTATION
PHASES. NEXT SLIDE. INCLUDING
ASSEMBLING THE TEAM. DESIGNING
THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT.
CONDUCTING THE SURVEY AND
ANALYZING AND SHARING THE SURVEY
DATA. THE TOOLKIT CONTAINS
NUMEROUS RESOURCES AND TEMPLATES
, SUCH AS A SAMPLE SURVEY A
POWERPOINT TRAINING FOR LOCAL
CANVASSERS AND LINKS TO ONLINE
TOOLS TO GENERATE MAPS AND
RANDOMIZED SAMPLES. NEXT SLIDE.
ONE UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE TOOL
KIT IS ITS FOCUS ON COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS. TRUST IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT IN REACHING AT RISK
POPULATIONS. COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ARE LOCAL EXPERTS AND CAN
IDENTIFY IMPACTED AREAS AND
POPULATIONS. THEY CAN INCREASE
THE LEGITIMACY OF THE SURVEY AND
THE EYES OF LOCAL RESIDENTS. AND
THEY CAN HELP ADMINISTER THE
SURVEY TO RESIDENTS. THE TOOLKIT
PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON
DEVELOPING SURVEY QUESTIONS
BEYOND PROPERTY DAMAGE, SUCH AS
QUESTIONS ON JOB LOSS AND LOST
WAGES, EVICTIONS AND RENT
INCREASES AND THE POTENTIAL FOR
FUTURE ECONOMIC LOSS DUE TO
DEFERRED DAMAGE, SUCH AS MOLD
AFTER A FLOOD. ANOTHER SET OF
QUESTIONS THAT ASSESS FEMA
ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATION AND
THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF AID
RECEIVED FROM FEMA OR OTHER
DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAMS. THE
INCREASING FREQUENCY AND
INTENSITY OF EXTREME WEATHER
EVENTS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE
WILL IMPACT AN INCREASING NUMBER
OF CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. WE HOPE
THAT OUR TOOLKIT CAN BE A
HELPFUL RESOURCE TO PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES
SEEKING TO CONNECT VULNERABLE
AND AT RISK POPULATION WITH
SUFFICIENT AID AFTER A MAJOR
DISASTER. YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN
PROVIDED, UH, WITH A TOOLKIT
TODAY, OR YOU CAN FIND IT AT
ONLINE AT THE U èC MERCED
COMMUNITY AND LABOR CENTERS.
PUBLICATION PAGE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UM WITH THAT, MR
BRONSON, MR. FLORES. NOW WE'LL
HEAR FROM KELLEY SCANNON,
DIRECTOR OF MERCHANT MANAGER FOR
THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY.
HOPEFULLY I GOT THAT RIGHT. I
CRUSHED IT. UH, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. I'M KELSEY SCANLAN,
DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
FOR THE COUNTY OF MONTEREY. UH,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME
HERE TODAY. UM I WANTED TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR
EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY IN RELATION TO THE
COMMUNITY OF PARO, BUT ALSO
GENERALLY FROM THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE. UH, IF
YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. OH, IT'S A POWERPOINT OR
A P Dð F. I'M SORRY IS TOO LARGE
. UH, I'M ACTUALLY GONNA SKIP
THIS. UM BUT I COULD TALK FOR
HOURS ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC
FORECAST FOR THE EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SPHERE I HAD
ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO THIS
GOVERNING BODY. UH IN JANUARY.
SORRY IN MARCH, I BELIEVE IT WAS
MARCH ALMOST A YEAR. EXACTLY TO
THE DAY. UM JUST SEVERAL DAYS
BEFORE THE PAH LEVEE BROKE. UM
AND SO YOU'LL NOTE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JANUARY
AND MARCH STORMS IN THAT YES,
JANUARY WAS VERY IMPACTFUL AND
SIGNIFICANT. FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM BUT MARCH WAS CATASTROPHIC
FOR THE COMMUNITY OF PARO AND
CATASTROPHE IS FAIRLY, YOU KNOW
RELEVANT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT, UM, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE
IN RURAL AREAS THAT ARE, UH,
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED,
GENERALLY MARGINALIZED, UH, OF
LOW LOW INCOME SOCIOECONOMICS
STATUS. UM, AND SO YOU'LL SEE
THAT OUR INCIDENT PERIOD WAS
ABOUT 68 DAYS, THOUGH WE DO HAVE
THE PROCLAMATION STILL OPEN FOR
EMERGENCY REPAIRS UNTIL SUCH
TIME THAT THE LEVY IS ACTUALLY
REPAIRED. UM WE EXHAUSTED OUR
DSW, UH, CADRE. AND UM, I THINK,
MOST NOTABLY, AND I'LL TALK
ABOUT THIS IN THE NEXT SLIDE AS
WELL. UM IS THAT WE HAD, UH
THREE 100 WATER RESCUES. UH,
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. UM AND WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT WATER RESCUES,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE, UM,
EITHER BEING TAKEN FROM THE ROOF
OF THEIR HOME OR STRANDED IN A
VEHICLE. UM MUCH ACTUALLY, LIKE
THE PHOTO IN THE BACKGROUND. UM
EITHER BY, UM, BOAT OR BY HIGH
WATER VEHICLE. UH AND DURING
THIS, UH, INCIDENT. WE ONLY HAD
ONE INJURY NÓ FATALITIES, WHICH
IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY
PROUD OF, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO DO
THAT WITH THE AMPLE STATE
RESOURCES THAT WERE PROVIDED TO
US WITH THE STATE NATIONAL
GUARD, AS WELL AS LAW
ENFORCEMENT, MUTUAL AID AND CAL
FIRE SUPPORT THROUGH THE XMY
TASK FORCE. UM THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY. WE HAD OVER 10,000
PEOPLE EVACUATED, SO THIS
INCLUDED OTHER AREAS IN THE
MONTEREY COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA
ALONG THE SALINAS RIVER, THE
CARMEL RIVER AND THE BIG SUR
RIVER. UM IN TOTAL, UH, AFTER
DOING 1000 BUILDING INSPECTIONS,
WE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 400.
44 BUILDINGS THAT WERE DAMAGED
OR DESTROYED. UM THOUGH, THOSE
NUMBERS DON'T ADEQUATELY REFLECT
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOMES
IMPACTED BY SOME AMOUNT OF FLOOD
WATERS. THESE ARE BASED ON THE
FEMA STANDARDS ABOUT, UM, WATER
IN PROXIMITY TO, UH, THE
ELECTRICAL OUTLET. HEIGHT OF 18
INCHES, UM AND GENERALLY ABOUT
3000 HOMES THREATENED ACROSS THE
MONTEREY COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA
. DURING THAT TIME WE PROVIDED
SHELTERING FOR OVER 500 GUESTS
ACROSS FIVE DIFFERENT SHELTERS
AND THREE TEMPORARY EVACUATION
POINTS. NEXT SLIDE. UH, WE
PROVIDED, UH, RESCUE AND
EVACUATION SERVICES WE HAD, UM,
DRONE TEAMS PROVIDING 24 HOUR.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. UH, WE
PROVIDED SHELTER. WE PROVIDED
LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS. WE
CONDUCTED VERY AGGRESSIVE FLOOD
FIGHTING ACTIVITIES. WE UH,
OFFERED COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION,
AMPLE PUBLIC INFORMATION, A
CURBSIDE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM,
HYGIENE HUBS AND, UH, DAMAGE
ASSESSMENTS NEXT SLIDE. UM, NEXT
SLIDE. UM, SO THIS IS JUST A
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT RESPOND
INTO LONG TERM RECOVERY. LOOKS
LIKE UM THOUGH, THERE ARE, UM,
YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS FOR MY
COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
THIS CHART NEEDS TO BE UPDATED
IN TERMS OF, UM WHAT THE, UH,
EXPECTATION IS VERSUS WHAT THE
REALITY IS, BUT ULTIMATELY YOU
CAN SEE THE PROGRESSION FROM
RESPONSE TO LONG TERM RECOVERY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THAT A LOT
OF THESE CONCEPTS OVERLAP AND
THEREFORE REQUIRES SOME
FLEXIBILITY. NEXT SLIDE. UM, SO
WITH OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE
CENTER, WE SERVED OVER 500
PERSONS THROUGH OUR RIGHT OF WAY
DEBRIS REMOVAL. WE PROVIDED
10,000 CUBIC YARDS OF DEBRIS
REMOVED. UM AND OUR LOCAL
ASSISTANCE CENTER PROVIDED OVER
OUR APPROXIMATELY 1200 PEOPLE
SERVICES AND OUR SHELTER. UH,
INCLUDING NON CONGREGATE WAS
ABOUT 600. NEXT. UM SO WE REALLY
WANTED TO COMMEND OUR CALLOW E
S¼ PARTNERS, UH, THE RECOVERY
DIRECTOR IN PARTICULAR, WHICH I
BELIEVE YOU'LL HEAR FROM, UH,
LATER ON, UM WE WERE VERY
IMPRESSED WITH THEIR DEBRIS
REMOVAL PROGRAM. IT WAS A SKILL
AND A CAPABILITY THAT HAD BEEN
REALLY DEVELOPED OUT OF THE
FIRES THAT, UH, TRANSITION TO
ASSIST US IN A REALLY NOVEL WAY
TO PROVIDE CURBSIDE DEBRIS
REMOVAL. UM, FIRE, DEBRIS AND
FLOOD DEBRIS ARE NOT THE SAME
THING AND THEY CANNOT BE TREATED
AS SUCH. UM, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE
TAILORED MUCH OF OUR DEBRIS
REMOVAL PROGRAMS TO WILDFIRE.
UH, THREATS AND HAZARDS CALLS
HAD TO COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT
SOLUTION ON THE FLY THAT SERVED,
UH, COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE IS
ACTUALLY A HIGHER DEGREE OF
RENTERS LIVING IN THE HOMES. UM
AND ACCESS TO THE PROPERTIES
THAT ARE LIMITED OR UNNECESSARY
FOR THEM TO RECOVER IN DEBRIS
REMOVAL. UM, I THINK ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WAS MOST SHOCKING
WAS HOW DIFFERENT IN CAPABILITY.
THE DEBRIS REMOVAL PROGRAM WAS
FROM THE OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE
RECOVERY DIRECTORATE. THAT
CAPABILITY HAD REALLY BEEN
DEVELOPED, AND IT WAS CLEAR AND
OBVIOUS IN HOW WELL THEY WERE
ABLE TO SUPPORT US, AND WE'D
REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT
CONTINUED, BUILD OUT OF, UH,
CAPABILITIES, UM, WITH REGARDS
TO LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS,
CARE AND SHELTER. INDIVIDUAL AND
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. UH VOLUNTEER
AGENCY AND PRIVATE SECTOR CO
ORDINATION AND NOVEL RECOVERY
CHALLENGES. UM ULTIMATELY, WE
WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE, UM,
MORE COORDINATIONS WITH OUR
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS
BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL
LEVEL SO THAT WE'RE ALL CLEARLY
SAYING THE SAME THING AND NOT
PERPETUATING ANY MISINFORMATION.
UM AND THEN, WHILE FEMA DOES NOT
CONSIDER PREPAREDNESS TO BE
MITIGATION, UM KNOWLEDGE IS
POWER, AND IT DOES HELP US IN
REDUCE IMPACT, AND THEREFORE,
UM, WE FULLY BELIEVE THAT
PREPAREDNESS IS MITIGATION AND
MORE TRAINING ON HOW RECOVERY
WORKS BEFORE THE DISASTER. HERS
WOULD BE BENEFICIAL NOT JUST FOR
THE LOCAL JURISDICTION BUT FOR
THE STATE AND RECOVERING AS MUCH
MONEY AS POSSIBLE. NEXT SLIDE.
UM SO CURBSIDE DEBRIS REMOVAL.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA NOT GONNA HIT
ON THIS VERY HARD. UM, BUT THE
PROGRAM IN TOTAL COST US ABOUT
$1.6 MILLION. WE REMOVED 9000
CUBIC YARDS IN TOTAL 10,000 IN
HOUSEHOLD DEBRIS IN 2000 CUBIC
YARDS IN MUD, UM, JUST FROM THE
RIGHT OF WAY, SO WE HAD PEOPLE
MOVE THEIR DEBRIS TO THE CURB,
AND WE REMOVED IT FOR THEM. A
FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF WHAT A
NOVEL SOLUTION LOOKS LIKE TO A
NOVEL CHALLENGE NEXT SLIDE. UM,
ACTUALLY ON THAT ITEM IN
PARTICULAR. THAT'S A PERFECT
EXAMPLE OF, UH, CULTURAL
SENSITIVITY AND EQUITY. RIGHT
UM, YOU'RE PROVIDING A SERVICE
FOR A HIGHLY UNDOCUMENTED
POPULATION THAT DOES NOT EXCLUDE
THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN A
PROGRAM THAT THEY NEED TO
SURVIVE. SO, UM FOR KAREN
SHELTER. WE REALLY STRUGGLED
WITH THIS IN PARTICULAR WITH
SUCH A GREAT, UH, DEMAND FOR
SHELTER SERVICES. WE REALLY HAD
TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WAS NOT
A CONGREGATE OPERATION AFTER THE
FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, IN
REALIZING THAT THIS COMMUNITY
DID NOT HAVE THE FRIENDS FAMILY
NETWORK AVAILABLE TO THEM BEYOND
THEIR COMMUNITY TO CALL UPON TO
HELP SUPPORT THEM. WE ALSO FOUND
THAT YES, A LOT OF THEM RECEIVED
FEMA RENTAL ASSISTANCE, BUT JUST
BECAUSE YOU GET MONEY DOES NOT
MAKE THE HOUSING AVAILABLE. UM,
AND SO THOSE CHECKS EITHER WERE
UNABLE TO BE USED, UM, OR WERE
USED FOR VARIOUS OTHER PURPOSES
THAT WERE VERY NECESSARY FOR
SURVIVAL. UM AND ALSO OUR RENTAL
MARKET COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE
THE, UH, AMOUNT THAT WAS
ALLOCATED BY FEMA. UM, I THINK
FOR THIS ONE, WE HAVE SEEN A
GREAT DEMAND. UH, FROM OUR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS, NOT JUST IN OUR
COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE STATE FOR
CARE AND SHELTER RESOURCES. WE
ALREADY HAVE A DAY TO DAY
HOUSING CRISIS OCCURRING, UM,
WHICH IS FULLY EXACERBATED
DURING A DISA DISASTER. AND SO
OUR REQUEST IS THAT MORE GRANT
FUNDS BE AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY
FOR KAREN SHELTER. EMERGENCY
SERVICES STAFF AT AT THE COUNTY
LEVEL THROUGH DSS. NOT JUST
THROUGH CALL Ó E S¼, UM, WE'VE
BUILT OUT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM,
AND NOW WE'RE STILL RELYING ON
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO
PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT WAS
REALLY ONLY INTENDED TO BE
PROVIDED ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS,
AND IT'S BECOMING MULTIPLE TIMES
A YEAR. UM AND THEN LOOKING MORE
FULLY AT HOW THE STATE CAN
PROVIDE DIRECT CARE AND SHELTER
SERVICES, ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER
INTO THAT GRAY AREA BETWEEN
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. UH, NEXT
UP. OUR NEXT SLIDE. UM. BIG
THANKS. MANY THANKS FOR THE 20
MILLION ALLOCATED TO PARO. UM IT
HAS BEEN, UM, A TRULY TREMENDOUS
, UM, EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO,
UH, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
IDENTIFY WHAT THEIR ACTUAL NEEDS
ARE NOT WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT PERCEIVES TO BE THEIR
NEEDS AND CREATE PROGRAMS OUT OF
THAT DIALOGUE. AND SO THROUGH
SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WE
WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THIS,
UH, PROPOSED LIST OF PROJECTS TO
BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE COMMUNITY
OF PARO THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO OTHERWISE. AND
YOU'LL SEE AT THE VERY TOP,
CREATING AN UNMET FLOOD RECOVERY
NEED FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL AS SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT
THAT IN A SECOND AND THEN, UM,
INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE
COMMUNITY THROUGH COMMUNITY
GRANTS AND THEN INTO OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL BOTH, UH,
DAY TO DAY INFRASTRUCTURE,
HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO
OUR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL. NEXT
SLIDE. UM THIS COLUMN ON THE
LEFT IS ACTUALLY, UH, THE MOST
SHOCKING PART OF THIS SLIDE,
WHICH IS THAT LESS THAN HALF OF
THE POPULATION. UM, WE ACTUALLY
ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE.
UM, WHICH IS HEARTBREAKING. UM,
AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE
ELIGIBLE, UH, THE PROCESS FOR
GOING THROUGH INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE IS IT'S CUMBERSOME
AND IT'S UM IT'S DEHUMANIZING.
THERE'S NÓ DIGNITY IN HAVING TO
JUSTIFY YOUR LOSSES REPEATEDLY
TO CONSTANTLY BE DENIED. UM AND
THE BUREAUCRATIC THAT'S REQUIRES
AN EDUCATION LEVEL FAR BEYOND
WHAT MOST AMERICANS HAVE, UM
FROM A LOCAL JURISDICTION
PERSPECTIVE. IT IS ALSO
DIFFICULT. THIS IS OUR BUSINESS,
AND WE STRUGGLE TO NAVIGATE THE
FEMA IAP A PROCESS AND SO, UM,
CREATING OUR OWN PARO UNMET
NEEDS DISASTER ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS AN
I A PROGRAM AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
WE'VE BEEN [E
FLEXIBILITY TO, UM PUT FACES AND
NAMES TO CASES TO STORIES TO
EXPERIENCES TO DISASTER TRAUMA
AND MEET THEM HALFWAY. WHERE DID
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAIL OR
WHERE DID THEY STOP? AND WHERE
CAN WE MEET THAT DIFFERENCE? UM
IN CREATING IT IN SUCH A WAY
THAT IS BOTH CULTURALLY
SENSITIVE, UM, AND ADEQUATE FOR
THEM TO ACTUALLY NOT JUST
RECOVER, BUT HONESTLY, SUR
SURVIVE TO THIS DAY. MANY OF
THEM ARE STILL VERY MUCH LIVING
IN THE SAME STATE THAT THEY WERE
A YEAR AGO. UM I WILL SAY THAT
THERE ARE MANY NUANCES TO THE
FEMA I, A PROGRAM THAT HAVE BEEN
DIFFICULT FOR THE COUNTY TO
OVERCOME. WE'VE ESSENTIALLY
CREATED THIS PROGRAM OUT OF THIN
AIR WITH A VERY LITTLE GUIDANCE,
UM, TO HELP US AVOID DUPLICATION
OF BENEFIT AND REDUCE RISK FOR
THE INDIVIDUAL AND HOUSEHOLD AS
WELL AS FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING
WITH THE COUNTY OF MERCED, UM,
TO SEE WHERE WE CAN SHARE IDEAS.
UM BUT ULTIMATELY IT REALLY IS
BEYOND OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE
THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM REGULARLY,
BUT IT IS VERY NEEDED. AND SO
OUR ASK IS THAT THE STATE WHO IS
IN A VERY GREAT POSITION, UH,
BEING THAT YOU ALSO CONTRACT FOR
DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICES THROUGH CHARITIES FOR
THIS PARTICULAR DISASTER. YOU
ALREADY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
SET UP. UH, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE
RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU ALREADY
HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS DATA
THAT WOULD REDUCE DUPLICATION OF
BENEFITS THAT WOULD GREATLY
BENEFIT ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS IN
MONTERREY OR IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, BUT ALSO MONTEREY
COUNTY. UM AND SO WE'RE ASKING
THAT YOU PRIORITIZE GRANTS FOR
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED
FROM DISASTERS BUT ALSO DEVELOP
A STATE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS A
QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THE
SEQUENCE OF DELIVERY UH, LOOKS
LIKE. SO WHEN WE SAY NÓ
DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS, IT'S A
SMALL SENTENCE, BUT IT HAS A LOT
OF IMPLICATIONS. UM THERE'S A
LOT OF RISK TO THAT. AND SO WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT SEQUENCE OF
DELIVERY, THIS IS THE PROCESS BY
WHICH FEMA ENSURES THAT NÓ THAT
NÓ INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD OR, UH,
PERSON RECEIVES MORE THAN WHAT
THEY YOU. THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO,
ESSENTIALLY AND SO WE PLUGGED IN
AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS TO
ENSURE THAT ALL PERSONS GOING
THROUGH OUR PROGRAM HAVE
ACTUALLY, UH, BEEN ABLE TO FULLY
MAXIMIZE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR
THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN THE
DELTA BETWEEN WHAT THEY NEED AND
WHAT THEY'VE RECEIVED IS WHAT WE
PROVIDE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM,
AND WE'RE DOING THAT, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA CONTRACTED DISASTER
CASE MANAGERS, SO WE'VE ALREADY
REALLY REALLY TAPPED INTO THE
SYSTEM THAT YOU'VE ALREADY
CREATED. NEXT SLIDE. I'M SORRY.
I'M TRYING TO GO SO FAST, SMALL
BUSINESS RECOVERY. THIS IS ONE
THAT I DON'T THINK IT TALKED
ABOUT OFTEN. BUT UM OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ECONOMY
IN 2022. WE IDENTIFIED THAT 4.2
MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES IN
CALIFORNIA REPRESENTED 99.8% OF
OUR OVERALL MARKET. THAT'S QUITE
SIGNIFICANT, IF NOT ALL OF OUR
BUSINESS 7.4 MILLION OF THOSE
SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOYED 47.9%
OF CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES, UM. IS
NÓ FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR RELIEF
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. THERE IS A
ALONE PROGRAM WITH A LOW
INTEREST RATE THAT IS NOT
RECOVERY RELIEF. THAT IS NOT
DISASTER RELIEF AND IT'S
HONESTLY INAPPROPRIATE AND
INSULTING TO OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO THINK OF A SMALL
INTEREST LOAN TO BE DISASTER
RECOVERY. UM 40% OF SMALL
BUSINESSES NEVER REOPEN AFTER A
NATURAL DISASTER OCCURS. WE HAVE
SEEN THIS IN THE COMMUNITY OF
PAO 90% OF BUSINESSES EXPERIENCE
, UM OR WILL NEVER RE OR SORRY
90% OF BUSINESSES THAT
EXPERIENCE A BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION CLOSE FOREVER AFTER
A NATURAL DISASTER. THESE ARE
STATISTICS FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. THROUGH FEMA AND THE
S¼ B A. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLY, UM
, THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING
TO SEE THE BACKBONE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES FAIL BECAUSE WE HAVE
NOT BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A LOCAL,
STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAM TO
ASSIST THEM. SO WE'VE CREATED A
SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE THE STATE TO
CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR
NEXT SLIDE. UM. I COULD TALK
ABOUT THIS ONE FOR HOURS, SO YOU
CAN CALL ME BACK FOR ANOTHER DAY
FOR THIS ONE NEXT SLIDE. UH, WE
HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DAMAGE, UM, TO THE TUNE OF NEXT
SLIDE. OVER 102 ELIGIBLE
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
EXPENDITURES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR FEMA. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
BETWEEN UH 2019 AND 2020 THREE.
SO SIX FEDERAL DISASTERS IN SIX
YEARS FOR A SYSTEM THAT WAS
REALLY ONLY INTENDED TO SERVE
ONCE EVERY DECADE IS, UM
EXHAUSTIVE, UM, OF 100 AND
2,000,082 MILLION ARE ELIGIBLE
FOR FEDERAL DIRECT CHECK FROM
FEMA, OF WHICH 7 MILLION HAVE
ACTUALLY BEEN OBLIGATED. AND
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE THE
PAPERWORK SUBMITTED TO FEMA.
THEY'VE ONLY APPROVED PAPERWORK
THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO THEM
FOR 7 MILLION OF THAT $82
MILLION. SO UH, THERE'S AN
ADMINISTRATIVE BACKLOG. UM AND
OF THAT 7 MILLION. WE'VE MAYBE
RECEIVED 2 TO 4 MILLION IN
ACTUAL MONEYS, UM, FOR. SEVEN
YEARS, UM AND DAVID REED WILL
TALK ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES, BUT,
UM, THIS IS EXHAUSTIVE OF OUR
LOCAL BUDGET. UM, WE'RE
FORTUNATE IN THAT WE'RE A VERY
WELL RESOURCED COUNTY AND WE'RE
A VERY, UH, CONSERVATIVE
CONSERVATIVE IN HOW WE SPEND AND
SAVE MONEY. UM, BUT THIS IS FAR
BEYOND WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO
WITHSTAND IN TERMS OF RISK. UM,
NEXT SLIDE. UM EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT HAS DRASTICALLY
CHANGED. 1940 EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT CAME OUT OF THE CIVIL
DEFENSE CONCEPT AFTER WORLD WAR
I, UM HAS OBVIOUSLY GREATLY
CHANGED SINCE WE'RE NÓ LONGER,
REALLY TALKING ABOUT CIVIL
DEFENSE. THERE WAS SOME NUCLEAR
FALLOUT SHENANIGANS IN THE
SEVENTIES AND THEN IN THE 19
EIGHTIES, WE SAW SOME, UH, ABOUT
ON AVERAGE 3.31 BILLION
DISASTERS ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT
THE DECADE. UM SINCE THEN. JUST
IN 2020 THREE. WE'VE SEEN 28 1
BILLION DISASTERS NATIONWIDE.
UM, THAT IS A. CATASTROPHICALLY
COMPOUNDING ON EACH OTHER, UM,
OUR OFFICE REALLY BECAME A
DIVISION OF THE èC. I Ó THE
COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE IN
1990. RIGHT THIS PAST YEAR, WE
BECAME A STAND ALONE DEPARTMENT
AND HAVE NOW A STAFF OF 15
PEOPLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE
EXACERBATED DEMAND ON OUR
DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICES AND
RESOURCES IN A DISASTER, UM, AND
IS EASILY JUSTIFIABLE. SO THE
PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE STARTED HAS
QUITE CONSIDERABLY CHANGED TO
TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY FUNDING FOR
THOSE SERVICES HAS NOT
INCREASED. UH, COMMENCE IN ANY
COMMENSURATE MANNER BY WHICH THE
DEMAND FOR SERVICE HAS. AND SO
OUR ASK, IS THAT THE STATE
DIRECT A GREATER SHARE OF
FEDERAL GRANTS TO LOCAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. NEXT
SLIDE. UM SHORT OF THIS LONG IS
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. UH,
DIRECTOR WARD BRINGING EVERYONE
TOGETHER, UH, THIS PAST WINTER
TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN REBUILD
OUR RELATIONSHIP. LOOK AT HOW WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD. LOOK AT HOW AS
A STATE AN INDIVIDUALLY AS
OPERATIONAL AREAS, WE CAN RE
EVALUATE HOW EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT UH, WORKS IN THE
COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO HOW WE
LEVERAGE OUR POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES AND WHERE WE CAN
CHANGE THEM TO MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITY, NOT OUR
PERCEPTION OF, UH WHAT THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS AND SO WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY, AND
I THINK IT REALLY IS A STEP IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UM AND WITH
THAT. I'M SORRY. I TOOK SO MUCH
TIME I WAS WAY MORE THAN FIVE
MINUTES, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO
DAVID REED. THANK YOU, MS KELIAN
, AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM DAVID
REED, DIRECTOR OF THE SANTA CRUZ
COUNTY OFFICE OF RESPONSE.
RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE WHEN
YOU'RE READY, SIR. THANK YOU. UM
I'LL BE, UH QUICK AND PUT TRY
AND PUT A ANOTHER FINER POINT ON
THE FINANCIALS BEHIND THE
IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE
PROPOSING IN YOUR OPENING
REMARKS AND HOW CRITICAL THOSE
BILLS IN THAT LEGISLATION IS THE
NEXT SLIDE. UM SO I'M GONNA
HIGHLIGHT SOME PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
FOCUSED, UM, REQUESTS AND SOME
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOCUSED
REQUESTS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR
LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
DISASTER FRAMEWORK AND THE
IMPORTANCE THAT WE REIMAGINE THE
SYSTEMS. THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE
IN RESPONSE TO DISASTER, SO WE
TALK ABOUT RESILIENCE. FROM A
HUMAN STANDPOINT, WE TALK ABOUT
RESILIENCE FROM AN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOME
STANDPOINT AND WHAT WE REALLY
NEED TO DO IN THE BILLS THAT
YOU'RE PROPOSING CHAIR ARE
REALLY ABOUT RESILIENCE AND THE
SYSTEM, THE SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
AND RECOVERY THAT OUR STATE AND
FEDERAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
NEED NEXT SLIDE. SO AS MY
COLLEAGUE MENTIONED IN 2023,
FEDERALLY UM, FOR NATIONWIDE $28
BILLION DISASTERS. AS AS KELSEY
MENTIONED IN THE EIGHTIES, THERE
WERE A TOTAL OF 33 IN THE DECADE
OF THE EIGHTIES. UM IN THE LAST
FIVE YEARS ALONE, WE'VE HAD 100
AND $2 BILLION DISASTERS
NATIONWIDE, SO FEMA WAS NOT
DESIGNED. FOR A SYSTEM OF THIS
FREQUENCY RIGHT? AND THEY ARE
NOT ABLE TO RECOVER AND RESPOND
AND PAY AND REIMBURSE US FOR THE
DAMAGES WHEN THEY'RE FACING $28
BILLION DISASTERS NATIONWIDE.
NEXT SLIDE. THAT TRICKLES DOWN.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REITERATION
OF THAT OVER TIME. YOU CAN SEE
IN THE EIGHTIES, UM, ALL THE WAY
TO THE PRESENT THE NATURE OF
DISASTERS IN THE IN THE IN THE
MAGNITUDE OF INCREASE OVER TIME
NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS JUST IN THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE BILLION
DOLLAR DISASTERS THAT WE'VE HAD
SINCE, UM, THE 19 EIGHTIES AGAIN
. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA èC
Dð, A CALLOS WAS NOT DESIGNED
FOR THE FREQUENCY AND INTENSITY
OF THESE DISASTERS, AND WE NEED
TO CHANGE THE SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT
THAT ARE AT THE STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL TO GET MORE MONEY
TO COMMUNITY TO GET THE RIGHT.
UM REIMBURSEMENTS MORE IN A MORE
TIMELY MANNER BECAUSE NEXT SLIDE
, I'LL START TO SHOW HOW THAT
IMPACTS LOCAL GOVERNMENT. SO NOT
UNLIKE MONTEREY COUNTY, SANTA
CRUZ COUNTY, SEVEN FEDERALLY
DECLARED DISASTERS IN THE LAST
SIX YEARS, WE HAVE THE
AUSPICIOUS DESIGNATION AS THE
MOST VULNERABLE COUNTY IN THE
STATE TO LANDSLIDE BASED ON FEMA
, UM AND WE ARE JUST A VERY
SMALL BUT VERY VULNERABLE ON THE
FRONT LINES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
COUNTY. AND HOW THAT IMPACTS US
NEXT SLIDE. IS THAT THE
FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THESE
DISASTERS SO THIS BAR CHART THE
COLORS SHOW THE FINANCIAL
IMPACTS 140, PLUS BILLION
DOLLARS IN 27, OR MILLION
DOLLARS. SORRY, $140 MILLION IN
2017. ECLIPSING THAT IN 2023.
THE COLORED BARS ARE THE COST OF
THE DISASTERS THAT WE'VE
EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS. THE GRAY BARS ARE GENERAL
FUND TAX REVENUE. SO A DISASTER
IS ECLIPSING ALL OF OUR REVENUE
CAPACITY AT THIS LOCAL LEVEL.
NEXT SLIDE. FROM FROM JUST THE
LAST SEVEN YEARS TO ARTICULATE
WHAT'S GOING ON. RIGHT SO OUR
COUNTY SECOND SMALLEST
GEOGRAPHIC COUNTY IN THE STATE?
OVER ALMOST $250 MILLION IN
DAMAGE. UM WE'VE GOTTEN SOME OF
THAT OBLIGATED THROUGH FEMA.
WE'RE SITTING ON ABOUT 100 AND
$40 MILLION IN UN OBLIGATED OR
UNPAID CLAIMS TO FEMA. UM WHAT
THAT MEANS NEXT, UH, IS THAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT HAVING TO FINANCE
ABOUT $85 MILLION UM IN DAMAGE
COSTS GO OUT AND GET BONDS TO
COVER THOSE COSTS THAT WILL
LEVERAGE US. UP TO ABOUT OUR
MAXIMUM ABI ABILITY FINANCIALLY.
SO WE ARE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A
PLACE THAT WE ARE TRYING.
BECAUSE OF THE DELAYS OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN
REIMBURSING US TO PAY FOR OUR
RECOVERY. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE
FINANCIAL MEANS TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT YEAR OVER YEAR, SO WE
REALLY DO NEED UM, A COUPLE
SPECIFIC THINGS THAT I'M GONNA
GET TO IN THE ASK BECAUSE OF
THIS FINANCIAL IMPACT FROM THESE
DISASTERS NEXT SLIDE. SO I WANNA
BREAK DOWN THE IMPORTANCE, THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE. SO WE WERE GRATEFUL
FOR, UM KO'S ADVANCE. èC Dð, A
ADVANCE ON CATEGORY A AND
CATEGORY B FUNDS THAT WERE THAT
WE INCURRED DUE TO THE 2023
DISASTERS. HOWEVER WE NEED
BECAUSE OF THOSE DELAYS ON THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIDE IN
REIMBURSEMENT FOR PERMANENT WORK
CATEGORY èC THROUGH G. WE NEED
TO EXPAND. WE NEED A DEDICATED
FUNDING SOURCE AS YOU'RE LOOKING
FOR CHAIR. UM, WE NEED A
DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP
US. AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL WITH
SOME OF THAT PERMANENT WORK
BECAUSE THOSE DELAYS FROM FEMA
357 YEARS ARE CRIPPLING US
FINANCIALLY. WE ALSO NEED TO
TAKE SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM
THE MITIGATION SIDE OF KOS
MITIGATION, THE MITIGATION ARM
OF CALLOW S¼ DOES AN AMAZING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE JOB HELPING
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS TRY TO
ACCESS THE MITIGATION DOLLARS
AVAILABLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
BUT WE NEED THAT SAME TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE WITH FEMA, PA SUPPORT
SO THAT WE AS A STATE, WE AS A
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD BE MORE
EFFICIENT AND GET OUR PAPERWORK
DONE. AND IT'S ALWAYS A MOVING
TARGET WITH FEMA. UM DON'T GET
ME STARTED ON THE ON THE COVID,
UH, CONGREGATE 20 DAY RULING.
UM, BUT WE NEED THAT TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE SO THAT WE CAN ALL
BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AT GETTING
THOSE MONIES BACK FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THEN THE
OTHER THING TO JUST REITERATE
WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID. YOU
KNOW, SUPPORT IN THE NON
CONGREGATE. SHELTERING SPACE IS
CRITICAL. UM AS THESE DISASTERS
ARE VERY IMPACTFUL TO COMMUNITY
AND BEARING THAT COST AT THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE. AND THEN NEXT
SLIDE. SO ON THE INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANT SIDE UM AND I'LL JUST
FINISH WITH THIS. UM THE
PROPOSED WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING
HERE IN THIS COMMITTEE TO CREATE
AN INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
IS CRITICAL. WE DEFINITELY NEED
A STATE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. OUR COUNTY. UM GOT THE
MOST FEDERAL, UM, INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE OF ANY COUNTY FOR
BOTH DISASTERS LAST YEAR, UM,
WHICH IS A TESTAMENT TO THE NEED
IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT
ENOUGH. UM WHAT ENDS UP
HAPPENING IN THE DISASTERS THAT
WE EXPERIENCED IN 2020 THREE AND
ALSO THE DISASTERS THAT WERE
EXPERIENCING NOW IS. POINTS TO
ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS PEOPLE
ARE DEATHLY AFRAID. OF LOSING
THEIR INSURANCE. SO WE'VE GOT
FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE WILD AND
URBAN INTERFACE. THEY ARE IN THE
HIGH FIRE SEVERITY AREA AND
THEY'RE ON THE TEETERING EDGE OF
GETTING THEIR INSURANCE PULLED
SO THEY ARE SUBJECT TO FEDERALLY
DECLARED DISASTERS OR JUST
DISASTERS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS
YEAR, AND THEY ARE AFRAID TO USE
THOSE RESOURCES THEIR INSURANCE
RESOURCES TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES
BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF LOSING
THEIR COVERAGE, SO WE NEED
SUPPORT FROM FROM OUR STATE
LEGISLATIVE BODY TO BUILD A MORE
STABLE INSURANCE MARKET SO THAT
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN ACCESS
THE FEDERAL DOLLARS, RIGHT. THEY
CAN'T ACCESS THE FEDERAL
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DOLLARS AS
KELSEY MENTIONED FROM A
DUPLICATIONS OF BENEFITS
STANDPOINT, UNLESS THEY EXHAUST
THEIR HOME INSURANCE. IF THEY'RE
AFRAID TO USE THEIR HOME
INSURANCE, THEY CAN'T EVEN
ACCESS THAT FEDERAL INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE DOLLARS, SO WE REALLY
NEED TO BUILD SOME SECURITY FOR
FOLKS IN THE INSURANCE MARKET.
AND LASTLY, I'LL SAY THAT. YOU
KNOW, WE AS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTED BY
DISASTER. EVERY COUNTY IN THIS
STATE HAS BEEN IMPACTED. BUT WE
ALL COMPETE FOR LIMITED
MITIGATION DOLLARS. AND WE ALL
HAVE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. AND
I THINK WHAT WE NEED IS
CONSISTENT, SUSTAINED FUNDING.
UM THAT WE CAN BUILD
PROGRAMMING, BUILD RESILIENCE
FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND NOT BE
COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER. SO
THERE NEEDS TO BE A BASE LEVEL
FUNDING FOR THOSE MOST
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. THOSE
MOST IMPACTED COMMUNITIES THOSE
MOST FINANCIALLY CONSTRAINED
COUNTIES AND COMMUNITIES LIKE
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE
WE ARE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED,
GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE
DISASTERS THAT WE'VE
EXPERIENCED, AND WE NEED THOSE
THAT FUNDING SUPPORT. WITH THAT
I'LL STOP AND I'LL HAND IT TO
THE NEXT SPEAKER ONCE AGAIN.
THANK YOU, MR REED. NOW WE'LL
HEAR FROM OUR FINAL PANELIST,
COLLETTE CURTIS RECOVERY AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
FOR THE TOWN OF PARADISE. YOU'RE
READY. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN
RODRIGUEZ DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THANK
YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
ADDRESS YOU TODAY ON THIS
CRITICAL TOPIC OF COMMUNITIES
RECOVERING FROM DISASTERS. MY
NAME IS COLETTE CURTIS. I'M THE
RECOVERY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE
TOWN OF PARADISE. I'M HERE
REPRESENTING THAT RESILIENT
COMMUNITY, WHICH FACED CRUSHING
CHALLENGES AFTER THE 2018
CAMPFIRE DURING THAT FIRE THAT
BROKE OUT ON NOVEMBER 8TH 2018
150. 1000 ACRES WERE BURNED.
11,000 HOMES WERE LOST AND 85
PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES. UM AND
I WISH TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE
GRATITUDE TO THE STATE FOR YOUR
GENEROUS ASSISTANCE SUPPORT THAT
HAS PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN OUR
RECOVERY JOURNEY THUS FAR. IN
THE PAST FIVE YEARS SINCE THE
DEVASTATING CAMPFIRE, THE TOWN
OF PARADISE HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT
STRIDES TOWARDS RECOVERY. OUR
POPULATION HAS REBOUNDED TO
10,000 RESIDENTS, WHICH
REPRESENTS 37% OF OUR PRE FIRE
POPULATION OF 26,500. WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY REBUILT NEARLY 2800
HOUSING UNITS OVER 350
BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING IN OUR
COMMUNITY, WHICH IS DOWN FROM
1200 BEFORE THE FIRE. ACCORDING
TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCE. PARADISE IS THE FASTEST
GROWING CITY IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS RUNNING. WE'RE VERY PROUD
OF THAT OF THAT STATISTIC. OUR
RECOVERY STARTED IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE CAMPFIRE WITH THE
REMOVAL OF DEBRIS UNDER THE FEMA
FUNDED CAL OES DEBRIS REMOVAL
PROGRAM, AND IT WAS COMPLETED
NINE MONTHS AFTER THE DISASTER.
THAT PROGRAM REMOVED 2.5 MILLION
TONS OF DEBRIS. IT WAS A
SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. ADDITIONALLY
THE GOVERNMENT TREE REMOVAL
PROGRAM ALSO FUNDED THROUGH FEMA
AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH KOS
REMOVED 28,000 TREES ROOTED ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN
OF PARADISE ALONE, CONTRIBUTING
TO A SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT
ENVIRONMENT. THIS PROGRAM WAS
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AND WAS
THE RESULT OF COLLABORATIVE AND
CREATIVE DISCUSSIONS ON HOW BEST
TO RECOVER FROM WILDFIRES WITH
OUR FEDERAL AND STATE PARTNERS.
BUILDING BACK RESPONSIBLY AND
RESILIENTLY HAS BEEN THE GOAL OF
OUR RECOVERY FROM THE VERY START
. IN ADDITION TO STATE AND
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE OR WY
BUILDING CODES, WE HAVE LOCAL
OVERLAYS, WHICH WERE DESIGNED
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
SAFER FROM WILDFIRES STANDARDS
IN MIND, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN PUT
IN PLACE AS A REQUIREMENT FOR
REBUILDING. THOSE LOCAL
STANDARDS INCORPORATE SCIENCE
BACKED PROVEN PRACTICES TO
ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S
RESILIENCE AGAINST FUTURE
DISASTERS. THE TOWN OF PARADISE
IS COMMITTED TO ENHANCING
COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF FUTURE
EMERGENCIES THROUGH THE
CONSTRUCTION OF 21 EVACUATION
SIRENS OVER THE PAST YEAR. WE
ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON
IMPROVING EVACUATION ROUTES,
ROAD CONFIGURATIONS AND
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE,
INCLUDING INSTALLING CENTER TURN
LANES AND PAVED WALKING AND
BIKING PATHS TO INCREASE OUR
EVACUATION CAPACITY, WHILE ALSO
MAINTAINING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
FOR RESIDENTS CONNECTING
EVACUATION ROUTES FOR
ACCESSIBILITY AND POPULATION
IMPROVEMENTS DURING EMERGENCIES
IS ALSO A TOP PRIORITY, AND WE
ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON SEVERAL
ROADWAY CONNECTION PROJECTS THAT
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE
EVACUATION SAFETY. THESE
PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BLOCK
GRANT DISASTER RECOVERY OR FUNDS
, THOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE
WHILE THESE FUNDS ARE CONSIDERED
TO BE THE LAST FUNDS FOR
DISASTER RECOVERY AND MEANT TO
FILL UNMET NEEDS, THE TOWN OF
PARADISE STILL HAS SUBSTANTIAL
NEED FOR SAFETY AND PROJECTS
THAT IS NOT BEING MET THROUGH
THIS FUNDING AS AN EXAMPLE
THROUGH èC, Dð BG Dð R
INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TOWN OF
PARADISE APPLIED FOR PROJECTS
TOTALING OVER $815 MILLION,
WHICH WOULD HAVE FUNDED
IDENTIFIED EVACUATION
IMPROVEMENT AND MITIGATION
PROJECTS IN PARADISE. THE TOWN
WAS AWARDED $199 MILLION A
SIGNIFICANT AND GENEROUS AMOUNT.
HOWEVER THAT COVERS ONLY 25% OF
OUR IDENTIFIED NEED. IT IS
IMPORTANT TO MENTION HERE AS I
DISCUSS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND VISION THAT
I ALSO NOTE PARADISE'S EFFORTS
WITH INFRASTRUCTURE ARE HAMPERED
BY THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO
BEGIN WITH. BEFORE THE FIRE
PARADISE WAS A BEDROOM COMMUNITY
OF 26,500 PEOPLE WITH A MEDIAN
INCOME LOWER THAN THE REST OF
OUR REGION, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE
OF SENIORS, VETERANS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND A VERY
STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE.
FULLY BUILT OUT AND SITUATED ON
A RIDGE BETWEEN TWO CANYONS,
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE WAS MINIMAL
PARADISE AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES LIKE PARADISE OFTEN
LACK WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED
BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN OTHER
COMMUNITIES, SIDEWALKS, STORM
WATER AND DRAINAGE,
INFRASTRUCTURE, WASTEWATER
COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL AND FAIR
ROAD SERVICE CONDITION ARE
EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES OFTEN
DO NOT HAVE EVEN BEFORE DISASTER
STRIKES. AS DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES LIKE PARADISE
RECOVER FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.
THIS LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
BECOMES A MAJOR BARRIER TO FULL
RECOVERY FUNDING TO REPAIR
SIDEWALKS DAMAGED BY A DISASTER
CAN BE FOUND, BUT FUNDING TO
INSTALL SIDEWALKS WHERE NONE
EXISTED SO THE DISASTER AFFECTED
COMMUNITY CAN REBUILD DOES NOT
USUALLY EXIST. THE DISPARITY
BETWEEN DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITIES AND THOSE THAT ARE
NOT IS SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT COMES
TO FUNDING FOR BASIC COMMUNITY
NEEDS. THE TOWN OF PARADISE HAS
BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH MANY
THOUGHTFUL, CREATIVE
COLLABORATIVE RECOVERY PARTNERS
AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL
LEVEL WHO WORKED WITH US AND
WITHIN EXISTING THE EXISTING
SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THESE
DISPARITIES, AND I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT WORK WAS AS
VITAL AND FOUNDATIONAL FOR OUR
RECOVERY AND FOR OTHER
COMMUNITIES LIKE PARADISE. WHILE
WE IN PARADISE ARE PROUD OF OUR
PROGRESS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE IS STILL MUCH WORK AHEAD.
THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR UNFUNDED
PRIORITY NEEDS LIKE EVACUATION,
INFRASTRUCTURE AND SEWER, THE
AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
OF INSURANCE IS ALSO A BARRIER
INSURANCE IS AN ISSUE ACROSS
THIS STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND
IN PARADISE. WE ARE NÓ DIFFERENT
WHILE WE HAVE MADE MAJOR CHANGES
TO THE WAY WE MAINTAIN
DEFENSIBLE SPACE, THE WAY WE
BUILD OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
AND THE WAY WE LOOK AT OUR
COMMUNITY RISK AS A WHOLE
INSURANCE RATES HAVE YET TO
CATCH UP. LOOKING AHEAD TO OUR
NEXT FIVE YEARS OF RECOVERY. THE
TOWN OF PARADISE IS BOTH HOPEFUL
AND PRAGMATIC. WE FIND OURSELVES
IN A POSITION WE NEVER IMAGINED
HERE WITH YOU TODAY, EAGER TO
SHARE THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED
AND COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR
OTHER COMMUNITIES FACING OR
PREPARING FOR DISASTERS. WE ARE
GRATEFUL FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT
OF THE STATE, AND WE
RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR
CONTINUED ASSISTANCE IN THE
AREAS WHERE IT IS NEEDED. MOST.
WELL THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S A
CONCLUSION TO OUR FIRST PANEL.
SO NOW MY COLLEAGUES ANY
QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. AND UH,
SIMPLY REMEMBER, OR RAUL. I HAVE
A QUESTION. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.
I'LL BEGIN WITH DOCTOR FLORES.
IF I COULD I, UNDER YOUR
REFLECTIONS YOU SPEAK ABOUT
THOSE WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR
FEDERAL AID, AND WE HEARD ABOUT
UM, THE EFFECT THAT THIS HAS NOT
ONLY ON THE INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES BUT ON THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND ON THE LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES THAT MISS OUT
WHEN WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
NOT QUALIFYING. CAN YOU SPEAK
MORE EXPLICITLY ABOUT IF YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE OR ABOUT INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE, OR BOTH, AND WAYS IN
WHICH WE CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY
WHO CURRENTLY IS UNABLE TO
RECEIVE FEDERAL RESOURCES. THANK
YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. UM S¼ SO
MY COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO, UM.
THE LACK OF ELIGIBILITY, UM,
THAT MANY CALIFORNIA WORKERS
HAVE FOR, UM, UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE. UM UH, IS, YOU KNOW,
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT TO
CREATE SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD TAKE
TIME. AND UM, GIVEN THE
INCREASING FREQUENCY OF CLIMATE
RELATED DISASTERS AND THE
INTENSITY OF THEM THAT, UM NOW
IS A GOOD TIME TO BEGIN THINKING
ABOUT HOW TO BUILD THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SUCH A SYSTEM
, UH, BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE
WOULD HAVE TO BE BUILT FIRST,
RIGHT? UM SO THAT THAT THAT'S
WHAT MY COMMENTS WERE REFERRING
TO ON THE NEXT PAGE. YOU TALK
ABOUT COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKERS
AND THE NEED TO PROFESSIONALIZE
THEIR SERVICES. CAN YOU SHARE
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND
COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKERS? AND
WHAT'S DIFFERENT? ABSOLUTELY
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO UH,
WE'VE REFERRED TO THEM AS
COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKERS. UH,
THEY COULD ALSO BE REFERRED TO
AS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
OFTEN TIMES, UM, THE VERY PEOPLE
, UH, THAT THE STATE RELIES UPON
TO DO PUBLIC HEALTH OUTREACH. UM
HAVE A VARIETY OF SKILLS. AND SO
WE SAW THIS DURING THE, UM
DURING 2020 WHEN THERE WAS A
CENSUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
THAT PRO UM, COMMUNITY HEALTH
CARE WORKERS? UM WERE, UH, YOU
KNOW, SPREADING THE MESSAGE
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FILLING
OUT THE CENSUS FORM, UM, TO MAKE
SURE THAT CALIFORNIA DID NOT
HAVE AN UNDERCOUNT AND, YOU KNOW
, LOSE POLITICAL. UM UH UH,
POWER. SO, UM THE CHALLENGE IS
THAT, UM COMMUNITY OUTREACH
WORKERS FACE PROMO, TORA AND
OTHERS IS THAT, UM, UH, WITH THE
PASSAGE OF A B, FIVE
UNDOCUMENTED FOLKS THAT USED TO
WORK AS UM, AS INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS CAN NÓ LONGER WORK
AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. UM
WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN THAT
POLICY BRIEF. UM UH, THAT I HAD
MENTIONED, UM, RESPONDING TO A
PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER IS, UM,
YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR, UM UH,
FUNDING. UM TO SUPPORT. UM. AH
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CO OPS, UM,
AMONG, UM, UN UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS WHO THE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS IN MANY OF THESE
RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY
THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, DO CENSUS
OUTREACH IN PUBLIC HEALTH
OUTREACH AND ALSO CONDUCTED
SURVEYS DURING, UM YOU KNOW
THIS, UH, THE PLANE DISASTER. UM
SO, UH, CREATING. UM UH, THE
BRIEF DESCRIBES THE NEED TO, UM,
TO INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE
SO THAT THESE WORKERS CAN CREATE
CO OPS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY
UNDO FOLKS CANNOT WORK AS
EMPLOYEES. UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
THEY CAN BE BUSINESS OWNERS. SO
YOU KNOW, SELF EMPLOYED, UH,
HAVING YOU KNOW, EMPLOY, UH,
EMPLOYEE OWNED CO OPS, UM, WOULD
BE A MECHANISM FOR THEM TO BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS WORK
THAT WOULD BUILD THE DISASTER
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE STATE.
THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU.
SOME MEMBER BENNETT QUESTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND UM, I'M GLAD I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE
MATERIAL, BUT, UH, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE LONG TERM EFFORTS
YOU'VE MADE AND WHAT YOU FOLKS
ARE DOING IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
SAY, HOW CAN WE GET AID TO THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST FALLING
THROUGH THE CRACKS, SO WE NEED
TO TIGHTEN THE SAFETY NET UP. SO
MY QUESTION, UM, THAT I'M GONNA
ASK. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE
DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T WANT US TO
GO. GO ON IN TERMS OF TRYING TO
DO THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF
WE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG
PICTURE, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,
COMING WITH MORE DISASTERS
COMING THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT BE
ENOUGH RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF
ALL THE DISASTERS AND A
SIGNIFICANT EFFORT. ALSO NOT IN
NOT SEPARATE FROM, BUT ALSO
NEEDS TO GO TO TRY TO FIND WAYS
TO DECREASE THOSE IMPACTS OR
PREPARE COMMUNITIES BETTER FOR
THOSE IMPACTS. EXAMPLE I WOULD
GIVE IS FLOOD INSURANCE AT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE FEMA
REQUIRES IF YOU'RE IN THE FLOOD
ZONE AND YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE FLOOD
INSURANCE. WELL, THAT JUST
DRAMATICALLY HELPS WHEN THESE
THINGS HAPPEN, AND FLOOD
INSURANCE MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT OF A
HARDSHIP, BUT IT'S NOT THE
HARDSHIP THAT REBUILDING YOUR
HOME, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE AND YOU
KNOW FOR THESE PEOPLE, THAT'S
THAT'S UH, THAT'S PRETTY
STRAIGHTFORWARD ONE. BUT I THINK
WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE CREATIVE
AND TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE, UH
CONCEPTS THAT GO WITH THAT, YOU
KNOW. RECOGNITION THAT YOU'RE
MOVING INTO A PLACE THAT HAS
HIGHER RISK OF RECOGNITION THAT
YOU THEREFORE HAVE TO TAKE, UH,
YOU KNOW, TAKE SOME MORE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT. UM, UH,
A RECOGNITION THAT YOU, UH HAVE
TO HAVE INSURANCE OR WE HAVE TO,
UH, HAVE A COMMUNITY INVEST IN
HAZARD MITIGATION AND YOU YOU'VE
GOT. THERE'S A GOOD WRITE UP
ABOUT THAT, UH, IN THERE, BUT I
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S
TWO PRONGS BECAUSE THEY JUST
WON'T BE ENOUGH RESOURCES. THE
CLIMATE CHANGE DISASTERS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. CAN I? MAY I COMMENT
ON THAT? SO UM, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE REALLY STRUGGLE
WITH, UM AND I THINK ALONG THE
LINES OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING
WITH ABOUT IS, UM MITIGATION,
RIGHT? UM THE FEMA HAZARD
MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM IS
REALLY PREDOMINANTLY SET UP TO
ASSIST LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON
PUBLIC LAND. UM AND UNTIL
RECENTLY, I BELIEVE BRICK IS THE
ONLY OTHER GRANT PROGRAM
FEDERALLY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO
INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY
OWNERS TO REDUCE RISK ON THEIR
OWN PROPERTY. UM WE HAVE TRIED
TO LEVERAGE THE HAZARD
MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM TO DO A
HOME HARDENING AND DEFENSIBLE
SPACE PROGRAM. UM BUT WE FOUND
THE BE èC A THE BENEFIT COST
ANALYSIS TOOL TO BE INEQUITABLE.
UM WE FOUND THAT THE MONITORING,
UH, REQUIREMENTS WERE SO
CUMBERSOME TO BE ALMOST IMPOSS.
TO OVERCOME FOR THE PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNER. UM AND, FRANKLY,
THE ABILITY OF ACTUALLY PAYING
FOR IT WAS ALSO QUITE CUMBERSOME
AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACTUALLY
SEE A CHECK FOR MAYBE 5 TO 6
YEARS AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY
DONE THE WORK, AND FRANKLY, I
THINK IF PEOPLE COULD AFFORD TO
DO THE WORK, THEY WOULD JUST
RATHER DO IT THAN HAVE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HELP THEM AND
THEN, IN ADDITION TO THAT
THERE'S A VARIETY OF OTHER
REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY'RE
REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN FOR
THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE STRUCTURE
, AND SO QUITE FRANKLY, THE
FEDERAL HAZARD MITIGATION HAS
FAILED US AND WE SPEND A GOOD
PORTION OF MONEY THAT GOES
TOWARDS THAT PROGRAM. AND VERY
RARELY IS IT ACTUALLY USED OR
LEVERAGED AND IF IT IS, IT'S NOT
FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS, SO
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS GOVERNING
BODY TO REALLY RE EVALUATE HOW
THE STATE CAN SUPPORT PRIVATE
PROPERTY OWNERS IN REDUCING THE
RISK ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY. IN
ADDITION TO SUPPORTING LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS. ACTUALLY THE TOWN
OF PARADISE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF HOW CAN WE CREATE GREEN
SPACES OR SPACES AROUND THE
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE BUILT
THAT REDUCE OVERALL RISK TO THE
TO THE COMMUNITY? UM, BUT THERE
ARE AS SHE WILL TELL YOU MANY
PRIVATE LAND USE ISSUES IN
ZONING ISSUES RELATED TO
CREATING RESILIENT SPACES. SO,
YEAH, I DID SAY IT WAS GONNA BE
EASY. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DON'T
HAVE IT SOLVED YET, RIGHT? IT IS
. IT IS. I MEAN, I. I CERTAINLY
RECOGNIZE VERY DIFFICULT, VERY
COMPLICATED. ALL THE MORE REASON
FOR US TO BE CREATIVE AND BE
BOLD AND TRY TO CUT THROUGH ALL
THAT REGULATORY RED TAPE AND TRY
TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT
WORKS, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU
POINTING ALL OF THOSE OBSTACLES
OUT THERE. I SUPPORT YOU IN THAT
ENDEAVOR. WELL, THANK YOU. I HAD
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUT ONE
PARTICULAR, UM, COUNCILOR YOU
SAID IN YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT
BETTER COORDINATIONS WITH
AGENCIES. WHAT ARE WE MISSING?
THAT WE'RE NOT COORDINATING THAT
WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF SO
UM, UNDER THE STANDARDIZED
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE
STATE IS REALLY OUR ADVOCATE
WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. UM
IT'S DIFFICULT. IF NOT, YOU KNOW
, UNPROFESSIONAL TO GO AROUND
THE STATE AND TALK DIRECTLY TO
FEMA TO TRY TO BROKER RESOURCES
AND PROGRAMS AND POLICY
DECISIONS. AND SO WE HAVE TO
RELY ON CALLS TO, UH, BROKER
THOSE RESOURCES FOR US AND
TYPICALLY WE FIND A GREAT DELAY
IN, UM THE MESSAGING THAT'S COME
DOWN FROM FEMA, IF AT ALL, EVER,
UM AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US
WHEN WE IMPLEMENT POLICIES. UM
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A VERY I
KNOW EVERYONE'S GONNA BE VERY
SURPRISED BY THIS, BUT THERE'S A
LOT OF CATCH 20 TWOS IN FEDERAL
AND STATE POLICY. UM IN THAT
COORDINATIONS BETWEEN THE LOCAL
JURISDICTION AND THE STATE AND
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD BE
GREATER IN, UH, TRANSPARENCY OF
RESPONDING, SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT LETTERS REQUESTING
RESOURCES IN, UM YOU KNOW,
CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME,
DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF
RESOURCE WE'RE REQUESTING.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS
ACTUALLY RELAYED TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WHEN IT IS RELAYED
WHEN THE STATE RECEIVES A
RESPONSE BACK AND TO WHAT DEGREE
THE STATE IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
US THAT RESPONSE IN RELATION TO
WHEN THEY'VE RECEIVED IT. FOR
INSTANCE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT WE SUBMITTED OUR QUEST FOR
A NON CONGRUENT SHELTERING TO
FEMA, UM THE LETTER FOR DENIAL
ACTUALLY SAT WITH THE STATE FOR
TWO MONTHS. UM, WHILE WE HAD
BEEN OPERATING THE PROGRAM SO
GREATER COORDINATIONS ABOUT AND
TRANSPARENCY ABOUT WHEN THINGS
ARE RECEIVED WHEN THEY'RE
TRANSMITTED, AND WHEN A RESPONSE
IS RECEIVED BACK OK,
INTERESTING. UM I KNOW RIGHT
NOW. OBVIOUSLY, IN CALIFORNIA
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE
FLOODS AND THEN THE EARTH. THE
FIRES, BUT HOW DO WE START TO
LOOK AT IF I'VE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE BEING PREPARED TO RESPOND
TO TWO MAJOR DISASTER
SIMULTANEOUSLY? WHERE TO ME? WE
HAVEN'T HAD THAT EARTHQUAKE AND
IT'S COMING AND WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT THE INSURANCE
ISSUES AND THE COST OF WHAT
FIRES AND FLOODS DOING, BUT WE
HAVEN'T EVEN COMPARED TO WHAT AN
EARTHQUAKE IS GOING TO DO. THE
TYPE OF, UH, DISASTER IS GOING
TO DO INFRASTRUCTURE. SO HOW
SHOULD WE OR HAVE YOU GUYS
ALREADY STARTED LOOKING IN YOUR
OWN AREAS THAT? HEY, UM WE GOT
TO START LOOKING AT TWO MAJOR
DISASTERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE. BUT SHOULDN'T WE BE
LOOKING AT THAT THROUGHOUT THE
STATE THAT TWO THINGS CAN HAPPEN
AT THE SAME TIME, SO WE'RE ALL
STRUGGLING WITH ONE HOW WILL WE
BE ABLE TO BALANCE TWO AT THE
SAME TIME? I UM I TOTALLY AGREE
THAT THAT IS A GREAT CONCERN,
EVEN WITH THE PANDEMIC AND
TRYING TO PROVIDE CONGREGATE
SHELTERING DURING WILDFIRE.
EVACUATIONS IN 2020 WAS QUITE
DIFFICULT FOR US AND TO BACK TO
BACK FEDERAL DISASTERS MEANS
WE'VE EXHAUSTED OUR FINANCIAL
RESOURCES AS WELL AS OUR
CONTRACTUAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS
OUR DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS.
UM, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT
BURNOUT AND SO FROM THE LOCAL
LEVEL WE ARE DOING, UM, AN
EXHAUSTIVE, UM, REVAMP. OF OUR
Dð S¼ W PROGRAM SO THAT WE'RE
ENSURING ALL 5000 MONTEREY
COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE, UM, ABLE
TO SERVE AND NOT JUST THE SMALL
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE WHO KEEP
RAISING THEIR HANDS. UM AND SO,
II, I THINK THIS IS KIND OF WHAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WHEN WE
SAY, UM YOU KNOW, RESILIENCE AND
CREATING A CULTURAL PARADIGM
SHIFT RIGHT RESOURCES ARE
ALLOCATED FOR LOCAL
JURISDICTIONS BASED ON BASED ON
WHAT OUR LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL
, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL ARE
REALLY INTERESTED IN PUTTING
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION AND
ATTENTION TOWARDS UM AND WE HAVE
SEEN THAT SHIFT. UM WITH THIS
PAST WINTER, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE THAT, AND IT HAS BEEN
EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY DO WITH THOSE COMMITTED
RESOURCES, AND IT'S REALLY
OPENED MY EYES. BECAUSE THE
COMMUNITY IS CHANGING, UM
THEY'RE LIVING WITH THIS RISK
DAILY. UM AND THEY'RE LIVING
THROUGH TRAUMA REGULARLY. I CAN
COUNT ON ONE HAND. HOW MANY
TIMES I'VE PERSONALLY BEEN
EVACUATED FROM MY HOME OVER THE
MY TIME HERE IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA? UM AND THAT IS A
MULTI MULTIGENERATIONAL TRAUMA.
UM AND THAT ULTIMATELY CHANGES
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE
GENERATIONS COMING UP INTO
GOVERNMENT COMING UP INTO THE
COMMUNITY AS COMMUNITY LEADERS,
AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT FOR
PEOPLE YOU KNOW? COMING INTO THE
SPACE THAT WE REALIZE THAT, UM
HEALTH AND, UM, EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS ARE TWO OF OUR
GREATEST CHALLENGES, AND THEY
ARE VERY MUCH ENTWINED WITH
INFRASTRUCTURE WITH HOUSING WITH
, UM, COMMODITIES WITH FOOD WITH
AGRICULTURE. AND SO WHEN WE LOOK
AT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE
SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKING AT IT
MUCH LIKE HEALTH IN ALL POLICIES
, UM, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN
CREATE SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS, NOT
JUST PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTENDED
TO BE LEVERAGED ONCE EVERY
DECADE. UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE
FOCUSED SO MUCH. ON PLACING
FUNDS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT
WE REALLY, UM DISCOURAGED ANY
CAPABILITY OR CAPACITY
DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,
UM, OF THE 12 JURISDICTIONS IN
MONTEREY COUNTY. UM.
APPROXIMATELY NONE OF THEM HAVE
A DEDICATED EMERGENCY MANAGER.
AND THEY ALL FALL UNDER FIRE OR
LAW, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE
RESOURCES THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR
THEM. UM AND SO THERE IS A
GREATER NEED FOR RESOURCES AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE STATE
LEVEL, BUT, UM, THE FEDERAL
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
LEVERAGING, UM, ARE STRUGGLING
TO MEET UP WITH THE NEW DEMAND.
OK, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I
WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE
FIRST PANEL. ON YOUR
PRESENTATIONS, AND I'M THE TYPE
OF CALIFORNIA ALWAYS LIKES TO
LEAD ON A LOT OF THINGS, AND I
THINK WE SHOULD REALLY EVALUATE
OURSELVES AND BE THE LEADER WHEN
IT COMES TO DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FOR
OUR STATE, SO REALLY THANKS
AGAIN, AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR
SECOND PANEL. THANK YOU. OK?
OK, SO NOW ON OUR SECOND PANEL
WE HAVE, UH TROY ROBERT TROY,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CALIFORNIA
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
KI¾M JOHNSON, DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
AND JENNY CHO, ASSISTANT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT. SO WITH THAT FIRST
LET'S HEAR FROM ROBERT TROY Kò
Ó E S¼, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF
INTRA URGENCY RECOVERY CO
ORDINATION RECOVERY DIRECTORATE.
OK THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL. YEAH, YES.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR RODRIGUEZ
AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
UH, MY NAME IS ROBERT TROY,
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF
INTERAGENCY RECOVERY
COORDINATIONS AT CALLOWAY S¼. I
WANT TO THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL,
FOR THE INVITATION TO SPEAK
TODAY ON THE ROLE OF CAL IN
DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS. I'D
LIKE TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON OUR
ROLE DURING THE RESPONSE PHASE
OF A DISASTER BEFORE GOING INTO
A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON THE
RECOVERY SIDE OF THINGS. UM CALO
IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE
STATE'S INCIDENT RESPONSE
EFFORTS, UM DURING PREPAREDNESS,
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY, ENSURING
EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND
COORDINATIONS DURING CRISES.
RESPONSE ACTIVITIES ENCOMPASS
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS AIMED AT
SAVING LIVES, SAFEGUARDING
PROPERTY AND MEETING ESSENTIAL
HUMAN NEEDS IN THE AFTERMATH OF
DISASTERS OR THREATS. A KEY
ASPECT OF RESPONSE IS
REINFORCING LOCAL EFFORTS BY
COORDINATING STATE LEVEL
RESOURCES, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS CO ORDINATION FOLLOWS THE
STATE'S STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM GUIDELINES,
WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS, ENSURING A UNIFIED AND
EFFICIENT RESPONSE. THE STATE'S
RECOVERY EFFORTS BEGIN ON DAY
ONE OF THE EVENT OR CONCURRENT
WITH OUR RESPONSE EFFORTS. WE
CONTINUE TO BE DEDICATED TO
ENSURING THAT WE BEGIN RIGHT
ALONGSIDE AS SOON AS THE
DISASTER HITS. WE START FROM A
FIRM POSITION OF PARTNERSHIP AND
WELL ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS
WITH RECOVERY PARTNERS AT ALL
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. YOU'LL
HEAR SOON FROM SOME OF OUR KEY
RECOVERY PARTNERS AT èC, Dð,
S¼, S¼ AND HÌ èC Dð, AND WE
THANK THEM FOR THEIR
PARTNERSHIP. FROM INITIAL
RESPONSE THROUGHOUT RECOVERY. Kò
Ó E S¼ WORKS HARD HAND IN HAND
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO
SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS. WE STAND
WITH THEM FROM BEGINNING TO END
FIGHTING FOR EVERY DOLLAR OR
RESOURCE FROM EVERY FEDERAL AND
STATE PROGRAM, WE CAN TAP WE
WANT OUR LOCAL PARTNERS TO KNOW
WE WILL BE THERE WITH THEM AT
THE ONSET OF THE INCIDENT
THROUGH THE TURBULENT TIMES
MANAGING THE INCIDENT AND IT'S A
RECOVERY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. OUR GOAL
IS TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH
RECOVERY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY
AND MET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND
LEVERAGE EVERY AVAILABLE
RECOVERY RESOURCE TO FILL THOSE
GAPS AND TO PROVIDE THE BEST
POSSIBLE SUPPORT TO LOCALLY LED
RECOVERY EFFORTS. THERE'S AN
OFTEN QUOTED SAYING IN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT THAT ALL DISASTERS
START AND END LOCALLY AND THAT'S
CERTAINLY TRUE. BUT AT CALL. IT
IS OUR FIRM CONVICTION THAT
LOCAL COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT
HAVE TO DO THAT ALONE. CALLOWAY.
S¼ PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN WORKING
WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING
EMERGENCIES AND FACILITATING THE
DECLARATION REQUEST AND APPROVAL
PROCESS FOR DISASTER
PROCLAMATIONS. WE COLLABORATE
WITH AFFECTED JURISDICTIONS AS
WELL AS STATE AND FEDERAL
STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSIST IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF DECLARATION
REQUEST. THIS INCLUDES STATE OF
EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS.
CALIFORNIA DISASTER ASSISTANCE
ACT FUNDING REQUEST, OR
PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATIONS. AS
MENTIONED EARLIER. ALL DISASTERS
START LOCALLY. THE FIRST STEP IN
THE DISASTER PROCESS IS FOR A
LOCAL JURISDICTION TO PROCLAIM A
LOCAL EMERGENCY, AND IF THE
LOCAL AUTHORITY DETERMINES THE
EVENT EXCEEDS THEIR ABILITY TO
RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM THE
INCIDENT MAY REQUEST THAT THE
GOVERNOR PROCLAIM A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. IF A DISASTER IS UP
SUCH SEVERITY THAT STATE
RESOURCES ARE OVERWHELMED. THE
GOVERNOR MAY REQUEST ASSISTANCE
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
BASED ON THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST,
THE PRESIDENT MAY DECLARE THAT A
MAJOR DISASTER OR EMERGENCY
EXIST, THUS ACTIVATING AN ARRAY
OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN
THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
EFFORT. I'M GENERALLY SPEAKING,
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF DISASTER
DECLARATIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THE
STAFFORD ACT, UH, EMERGENCY
DECLARATIONS AND MAJOR DISASTER
DECLARATIONS. BOTH DECLARATION
TYPES AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT TO
PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FEDERAL
DISASTER ASSISTANCE. AN
EMERGENCY DECLARATION, WHICH IS
FAIRLY UNCOMMON FOR CALIFORNIA
CAN BE DECLARED FOR ANY OCCASION
OR INSTANCE WHEN THE PRESIDENT
DETERMINES FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS
NEEDED. THIS SUPPORT IS
GENERALLY LIMITED TO DIRECT
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH ALLOWS
FEMA TO MISSION TEST OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR SUPPORT TO
CALIFORNIA. AND THIS IS
SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCED DURING
LAST YEAR'S STORM EVENTS WHERE
WE DID HAVE SOME NOTICE COMPARED
TO A FIRE, UM, TO ALLOW US TO
KIND OF BRING IN FEDERAL
PARTNERS SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER TO PROVIDE DIRECT FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE. BUT IT IS A UH UM IT
IS A POINT THAT CAN SOMETIMES
CONFUSION BECAUSE IT DOES NOT
AUTHORIZE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT
FOR STATE OR LOCAL EXPENSES. A
MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION IS
MADE FOR ANY NATURAL EVENT THAT
THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES HAS
CAUSED DAMAGE OF SUCH SEVERITY
THAT IT IS BEYOND THE COMBINED
CAPABILITIES OF STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO RESPOND. A MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATION PROVIDES A
WIDE RANGE OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
PUBLIC ENTITIES, INCLUDING FUNDS
FOR BOTH EMERGENCY AND PERMANENT
WORK. UM, THIS INCLUDES, UM
EVENT TYPES OF ANY NATURAL
CATASTROPHE, INCLUDING ANY
HURRICANE. TORNADO STORM, HIGH
WATER, WIND DRIVEN WATER TIDAL
WAVE. TSUNAMI EARTHQUAKE.
VOLCANIC ERUPTION, LANDSLIDE,
MUDSLIDE, SNOWSTORM OR DROUGHT
OR, REGARDLESS OF CAUSE ANY FIRE
, FLOOD OR EXPLOSION, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING ALSO TO, UM THAT
PEOPLE FREQUENTLY, UM DON'T HAVE
CLARITY ON IN TERMS OF WHAT
TYPES OF EVENTS ARE ELIGIBLE,
AND SO THE KEY, THEREFORE THE
NON NATURAL DISASTERS WOULD BE
REGARDLESS OF CAUSE ANY FIRE,
FLOOD OR EXPLOSION, WHICH IS A
QUESTION THAT WE FREQUENTLY
RECEIVE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH
FEBA TO IMPLEMENT APPROVED
PROGRAMS, WHICH CAN INCLUDE THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE AND HAZARD MITIGATION
PROGRAMS, OF WHICH YOU'VE
ALREADY HEARD SOME FEEDBACK FROM
FROM SOME OF OUR WELL
EXPERIENCED LOCAL. UM, UH,
PARTNERS. WE ALSO ENGAGE ON
VOLUNTARY AGENCY SUPPORT. UM WE
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES THROUGH CO
ORDINATION WITH OUR DEDICATED
VOLUNTARY AGENCY LIAISONS AND
THE ROLE OF THE VAL, ALSO KNOWN
AS VOWELS, AND THEIR ROLE IS TO
ESTABLISH FOSTER AND MAINTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AMONG GOVERNMENT,
VOLUNTARY FAITH BASED AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE SUPPORT
IS VITAL TO OUR EFFORTS TO FILL
GAPS IN STATE AND FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND TO
ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF INCLUSIVE
AND EQUITABLE SERVICES AND
EMPOWER AND STRENGTHEN
CAPABILITIES OF COMMUNITIES. IN
PARTICULAR, WE ALSO UTILIZE THE
LISTO CALIFORNIA PROGRAM. UH,
WHICH RESILIENCY TO ENSURE THE
STATE'S MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS ARE READY WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES LISA'S
CALIFORNIA PARTNERS WITH LOCAL
TRUSTED MESSENGERS, COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, FEDERALLY
RECOGNIZED TRIBAL NATIONS IN
CALIFORNIA AND COMMUNITY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TO
LEVERAGE A GRASSROOTS FIELD
STRATEGY TO HELP VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS PREPARE FOR RESPOND
TO OR RECOVER FROM EMERGENCIES.
AND THE LATEST ROUND OF GRANT
FUNDING LEASED THIS CALIFORNIA
GRANTEES INCLUDE INCLUDED 93
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LISA'S
CALIFORNIA PARTNER AND PARTNER
SUCCESSFULLY REACHED 1 MILLION
ENGAGEMENTS IN JUST 11 MONTHS
SINCE THE WORK BEGAN IN JULY OF
2022. A BRIEFLY COVER THE UM
DECLARATION PROCESS, WHICH
BEGINS WITH THE INITIAL DAM OR
ESTIMATE OR I Dð E PHASE OF THE
DISASTER WHEN A GOVERNING BODY
SUBMITS ITS LOCAL PROCLAMATION
OF EMERGENCY TO Kò Ó E S¼. THE
PACKAGE SHOULD INCLUDE AN
INITIAL DAMAGE ESTIMATE, ALSO
KNOWN AS AN I Dð, WHICH IS THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S
IDENTIFICATION OF THE IMPACTS ON
LOCAL RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
ACTIVITIES. THE IDEA, ASSISTS
KRIS'S DAMAGES AND DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT TO REQUEST A
JOINT PRELIMINARY DAMAGE
ASSESSMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS A P
Dð, A WITH FEMA IN THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. AND
THOSE JOINT PRELIMINARY DAMAGE
ASSESSMENTS, UH, KNOWN AS P Dð A
S¼, UM UM OR CALLED INTO PLAY
WHEN AN INCIDENT APPROACHES THE
LEVEL OF A MAJOR DISASTER, THE
STATE AT WHICH TIME THE STATE
MAY REQUEST THE JOINT P Dð WITH
WHICH DETERMINES IMPACTS ON
INDIVIDUALS AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES, AND ULTIMATELY, THE
TYPES OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT
MAY BE NEEDED. DURING A JOINT
PDA WE PARTNER WITH FEMA, LOCAL
AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND
CERTAIN P AND P S¼ TO ESTIMATE
AND DOCUMENT THE IMPACT AND
MAGNITUDE OF THE INCIDENT. WHEN
A SEVERE CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT
OCCURS, THE GOVERNOR OR TRIBAL
CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAY SUBMIT A
DECLARATION REQUEST PRIOR TO
COMPLETION OF THE P Dð. AND UM
UH, THE REQUIREMENT THERE IS
THAT, UM THE DAMAGE AND SEVERITY
IS ABLE TO BE VERY VERIFIED TO
REACH THE INDICATORS OR
THRESHOLDS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH
THE P Dð A PROCESS AND THEN IT
IS SELF EVIDENT THROUGH OTHER
MEANS. SO IT TAKES A PRETTY, UM
PRETTY SIZABLE, CATASTROPHIC
INCIDENT TO GET THAT TURNED ON.
AND EVEN THEN IT'S GENERALLY
ONLY A PARTIAL DECLARATION SO
WE'LL STILL ULTIMATELY NEED TO
GO THROUGH AND DO THOSE P Dð A
S¼ GENERALLY SPEAKING. BEFORE WE
WRAP UP. I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE UNDER MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATIONS AND
BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE FEMA
DECLARATION PROCESS. SO NOT ALL
PROGRAMS WERE ACTIVATED FOR
EVERY DISASTER OF NOTE. THE MOST
RECENT DECLARATION, MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATION FOR SAN
DIEGO WAS SOLELY FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AND THEN ALSO THE HAZARD
MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, BUT
NOT THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, WHICH REIMBURSES UM
STATE AND LOCAL COSTS FOR PUBLIC
ENTITIES AND CERTAIN P MP S¼. UM
THE DETERMINATION THE
DETERMINATION IS AUTHORIZED IS
BASED ON THE TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
SPECIFIED IN THE REQUEST, BUT
MORE IMPORTANTLY, MEETING THE
INDICATORS OF THRESHOLDS AS
IDENTIFIED BY OUR FEMA PARTNERS.
THERE ARE PROGRAMS INCLUDED, AS
MENTIONED EARLIER INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS ASSISTANT
INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS THAT
MAY INCLUDE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND OTHER
NEEDS ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS
GENERALLY REIMBURSEMENT FOR
LOSSES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY AND
OTHER ITEMS NECESSARY FOR, UH
FOR, UH, TO MAINTAIN A
HOUSEHOLD. UM THERE'S ALSO THE
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UM,
WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO STATE,
TRIBAL AND LOCAL AND UNDER
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, SOME
PRIVATE NONPROFITS FOR EMERGENCY
WORK AND THE REPAIR OR
REPLACEMENT OF DISASTER DAMAGE
FACILITIES AND THEN HAVE SOME
MITIGATION ASSISTANCE. BUT FOR
ACTIONS TAKEN TO PREVENT OR
REDUCE LONG TERM RISK TO LIFE
AND PROPERTY FROM NATURAL
HAZARDS. AS FAR AS THE
DECLARATION CRITERIA. PRETTY
COMPLEX, BUT I'LL TRY AND HIT AT
LEAST THE HIGH LEVELS THE MAIN
FACTORS THAT FEMA LOOKS AT IN
TERMS OF MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST FOR A
DECLARATION. FOR PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE. UH, WELL, NÓ SINGLE
FACTOR IS DETERMINATIVE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING FEMALE, ONLY
AUTHORIZE THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM IF THE ESTIMATED COST OF
ELIGIBLE THE ESTIMATED ELIGIBLE
COST TO EXCEED ANNUALLY,
ADJUSTED PER CAPITA THRESHOLDS
ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE
IN NEED. SO FOR FY 24 PER CAPITA
THRESHOLD PER CAPITA THRESHOLD
IS A DOLLAR AND 84 CENTS, WHICH
COMES OUT TO ABOUT 70 THREE
MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE
STATEWIDE THRESHOLD. AND THEN A,
UM, A COUNTY. THE COUNTY
INDICATORS ARE BASED OFF OF, UM,
A COST OF DOLLARS AND 60 CENTS
PER RESIDENT. UM SO TO PUT IT
PLAINLY. THE COUNTY BOTH NEEDS
TO HIT ITS INDICATOR, BUT ALSO
THE STATE NEEDS TO HIT THE $73
MILLION OF ELIGIBLE STATE COST
AS WELL. FOR INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE. THERE ARE SIX
PRIMARY FACTORS, UM, STATE
FISCAL CAPACITY AND RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY, UNINSURED HOME AND
PERSONAL PROPERTY LOSSES. IS THE
DISASTER IMPACTED POPULATION
PROFILE, THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY
INFRASTRUCTURE CASUALTIES FROM A
DISASTER AND DISASTER RELATED
UNEMPLOYMENT. BUT THE TWO
FACTORS THAT THEY LOOK AT MOST
CLOSELY AND THAT THAT REALLY, UM
HINGE THE DETERMINATION FOR
WHETHER OR NOT RECOMMENDING YES
OR NÓ WERE THE FIRST TWO. REALLY
IT'S THE STATE'S FISCAL
CAPACITIES AND THEIR UNINSURED
HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
LOSSES. SO I'M UM THAT'S KIND OF
PUTTING IT AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL.
I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY, UH, IN IN
QUESTION TO ANSWER IF YOU'D LIKE
TO PROVIDE MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
SO IN CONCLUSION IS THE EFFECTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE. CONTINUE TO
INCREASE THE FREQUENCY AND
SEVERITY OF DISASTERS THE NEED
TO INCREASE DISASTER RECOVERY
CAPABILITIES AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT AND IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN
PARTICULAR IS GREATER THAN EVER,
AS THE ONGOING RECOVERY
PROCESSES CONTINUES, UH, FOR
MULTIPLE DISASTER EVENTS ACROSS
OUR STATE, CAS WILL CONTINUE TO
BE FIRMLY ENGAGED, HELPING TO
REBUILD OUR COMMUNITIES AND
SUPPORTING THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN
AFFECTED. I WANNA THANK YOU
AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME THIS
AFTERNOON, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR
ANY QUESTIONS THAT THAT CAN YOU
MAY HAVE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
DIRECTOR KI¾M JOHNSON. THANK YOU
, MR. CHAIR KI¾M. JOHNSON,
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES AND AS SOCIAL SERVICES
HAS A VARIETY OF ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS CONVERSATION
TODAY, I'LL FOCUS ON THOSE
SERVING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
UH, AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE
PREVIOUS PANEL, UNDOCUMENTED
CALIFORNIANS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR
MUCH OF THE FEMA, INDIVIDUAL AND
HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT
PROVIDE THAT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE AND DIRECT SERVICES
TO INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS
AFTER A DISASTER ALSO WOULD NOTE
THAT MANY UNDOCUMENTED
COMMUNITIES ARE ALSO FEARFUL OF
THE POSSIBLE IMMIGRATION
CONSEQUENCES OF RECEIVING
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE DUE TO
MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
CHARGE. IMMIGRATION RULES SO
MANY DON'T TURN TO GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE AFTER A DISASTER.
STARTING ACTUALLY IN THE
PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION,
GOVERNOR BROWN'S ADMINISTRATION,
THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL SERVICES, HAS SUPPORTED
IMMIGRANT SERVING ORGANIZATIONS
SEEKING TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE AND NAVIGATION
SUPPORT TO UNDOCUMENTED
COMMUNITIES AFTER NATURAL
DISASTERS ACTUALLY, BEGINNING IN
2015 èC Dð S¼ S¼ BEGAN FUNDING
IMMIGRANT SERVING ORGANIZATIONS
ACROSS THE STATE TO PROVIDE
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES. MANY
OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
TRUSTED SOURCES OF INFORMATION
FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE SEEK
ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF NEED. SO
AFTER THE DEVASTATING NORTHERN
WILDFIRES IN 2017 IMMIGRANT
SERVING ORGANIZATIONS REACHED
OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING
FUNDING TO PROVIDE RECOVERY
ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. SINCE
2017. THE STATE HAS RELIED ON A
COMBINATION OF DISASTER RESPONSE
, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
OR DR FUNDS AND LATER RAPID
RESPONSE FUNDING STATE GENERAL
FUNDS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR
IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY
NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER
EMERGENCIES. AND EXCLUDED FROM
THOSE OTHER RELIEF. THE STATE IS
PERIODICALLY MADE FUNDING
AVAILABLE TO SOCIAL SERVICES
DEVELOPED ONE TIME AD HOC
DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICES FOR
THIS POPULATION IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH NONPROFITS IN 2019, THE
STATE CREATED THE STATUTORY
FRAMEWORK AND AUTHORITY FOR A
RAPID RESPONSE FUND IN WELFARE
AND INSTITUTIONS. CODE SECTIONS
ONE THREE 4 400, THREE 13 408 TO
PROVIDE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE TO
IMMIGRANTS DURING TIMES OF NEED,
KIND OF ABOVE AND BEYOND
DISASTER EMERGENT NEEDS AS THEY
DEVELOP WITH THESE FUNDS. èC Dð
S¼ S¼ IS ADMINISTERED. PROJECTS
TO SUPPORT RECOVERY EFFORTS IN
RESPONSE TO FLOODS, COVID-19,
UH, RESPONSES TO WILDFIRES HAVE
BEEN FUNDED THROUGH GEO. BECAUSE
THERE'S NÓ EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE
DISASTER SERVICES TO
UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES FOR
EACH PROJECT. SOCIAL SERVICES
WAS TASKED WITH QUICKLY
DEVELOPING PROGRAMS AND
PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR
NONPROFITS TO IMPLEMENT. THIS
INCLUDES DRAFTING ELIGIBILITY
GUIDELINES AND POLICIES.
DEVELOPING INTAKE STAFF
TRAININGS, IDENTIFYING VENDORS
TO ISSUE PAYMENTS AND AT TIMES
IDENTIFYING REGIONAL LEAD
ORGANIZATIONS WHO COULD FUND
SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSIST
WITH REPORTING AND GRANT
MANAGEMENT. UH, IN ADDITION, SO
FOR THIS LATEST ROUND IN 2020,
THREE, THE STORM ASSISTANCE FOR
IMMIGRANTS WAS DEVELOPED AND
THAT WAS FOCUSED ON THE STORMS
THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED. UH, THE
STORM ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS
PROJECT SERVES 25 ADVERSELY
IMPACTED COUNTIES AS A PARITY
PROGRAM FOR FEDERAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE AND PROVIDES RELIEF
SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES INELIGIBLE FOR FEM. AH,
THE STORM ASSISTANCE. UH,
PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN JUNE OF
2023 TO DISTRIBUTE APPROXIMATELY
$80 MILLION IN RECOVERY
ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS
THROUGH UH, THIS PROJECT. èC Dð
S¼ S¼ FUNDS NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS IN IMPACTED
COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE THAT
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE
PERSONS IMPACTED BY THE STORMS.
QUALIFYING ADULTS RECEIVE $1500
IN CHILDREN UNDER 18 RECEIVE
$500 WITH A MAXIMUM OF $4500 PER
HOUSEHOLD, A HOUSEHOLD IS
DEFINED AS AN INDIVIDUALS WHO
LIVE AND PURCHASE PREPARE MEALS
TOGETHER. SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT
ARE NOT LIMITED TO CASE
MANAGEMENT, ONE TIME DIRECT
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, LANGUAGE,
ACCESS, DONATION PROCUREMENT,
KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS, TRAININGS
AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
NEEDED AS OF THE END OF FEBRUARY
OF THIS YEAR, THE INITIAL $80
MILLION IN FUNDING HAS BEEN
DISPERSED. UH, THE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS HAVE NOW BEEN ABLE TO
ADMINISTER A SECOND ALLOCATION
OF $11.7 MILLION MADE AVAILABLE
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 THREE TO
STORM IMPACTED COUNTIES WITH
HIGH FARM WORKER POPULATIONS
THAT EXCLUDED MERCED AND
MONTEREY, WHO RECEIVED AN
ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION
SEPARATELY ON THAT SPACE AND SO
OVER 56,378 INDIVIDUALS WERE
SERVED THROUGH FEBRUARY 25TH OF
THIS YEAR. THE OUTREACH IS
CRITICAL. AND YOU HEARD AGAIN IN
YOUR FIRST PANEL ABOUT THIS
PIECE. IT'S OCCURRING AGAIN
THROUGH TRUSTED MESSENGERS,
RELATIONSHIPS, INCLUDING SERVICE
PROVIDERS. PROVIDERS WERE
SELECTED IN OUR, UH, INITIATIVE
BASED ON THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN
REACHING AND PROVIDING SERVICES
TO UNDOCUMENTED POPULATIONS IN
THEIR LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
MANY SELECTED ORGANIZATIONS WERE
ALREADY PROVIDING SOME LEVEL OF
RECOVERY SERVICES AND UTILIZING
THE EXISTING NETWORKS TO
IDENTIFY ELIGIBLE CLIENTS.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEDIA OUTREACH
IS LIMITED. RELATIONAL WORD OF
MOUTH AND REFERRALS FROM LOCAL
PARTNERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE
MOST EFFECTIVE IN REACHING
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. THIS
STRATEGY OF TARGETED OUTREACH
CON CONDUCTED BY THE èC B Ó S¼
IS ALSO EMPLOYED TO MITIGATE
AGAINST FRAUD. BROADER MEDIA
CAMPAIGNS MAY UNNECESSARILY CALL
ATTENTION TO THE PROGRAM. UH,
WOULD ALSO JUST NOTE THAT WE HAD
A 1 800 LINE IN EIGHT DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES STOOD UP TO REALLY
AGAIN CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE, JUST
IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION AROUND
SOME LESSONS LEARNED THAT I
WANNA, UM, HIGHLIGHT, UH, IN
THIS SPACE, UM, PRIVACY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY CRITICAL,
PROTECTING PRIVACY AND
CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALL PROGRAM
APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS. I
MENTIONED AGAIN PUBLIC CHARGE.
GIVEN PUBLIC CHARGE
CONSIDERATIONS. MANY INDIVIDUALS
ARE HESITANT TO ENROLL SO THAT
TRUSTED MESSENGER PIECE IS KEY
LANGUAGE ACCESS AGAIN. I'M GONNA
UNDERSCORE JUST ENSURING THAT A
LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE AND
RICHNESS OF OUR OF OUR STATE, UM
THAT WE ARE REACHING AND MEETING
PEOPLE WITH LANGUAGE LINES AND
ENSURING TRANSLATION OF
MATERIALS. ALSO FINANCIAL
LITERACY. UH UNDOCUMENTED
COMMUNITIES HAVE VARIED LEVELS
OF FINANCIAL LITERACY, SO CASH
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS MAY REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ALLOW
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO GUIDE
RECIPIENTS THROUGH PROCESSES
SUCH AS THE USE OF A Tð M
MACHINES, ETCETERA AND ALSO
SHOULD CONSIDER, UH, PAYMENT
ISSUANCES SUCH AS PAPER CHECKS
AND PREPAID DEBIT CARDS AND THEN
AGAIN THE CAPACITY AND LOOKING
AT HOW BUILD THAT OVER TIME. UH,
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OTHER
PROGRAMS DISASTER CRE. YOU HEARD
WE ALSO SUPPORT MASS CARE AND
SHELTER. UH, WE WORK ON PRIORITY
POPULATIONS AND VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS AND ALSO THE LONGER
TERM CONNECTION TO SAFETY NET
FOR THOSE SURVIVORS WHO MAY NOT
BE, UH, PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED WITH
OUR SAFETY NET SERVICES GETTING
THAT CONNECTION MADE TO THOSE
WHO NEED THEM. SO I'M HAPPY TO
GO TO ANY OF THOSE OTHER PLACES
AT THE PLEASURE OF THE
COMMITTEE. WELL, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. UH, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
JOHNSON. FINALLY WE'LL HEAR FROM
JENNY CHO, ASSISTANT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE. OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MINORITY
JENNY. THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR
RODRIGUEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. UH I'M JENNY CHO WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHERE I
SERVE AS THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OVER HOUSING. UH,
FEDERAL, UH, RELIEF AND
RECOVERY. UM THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE THE
COMMITTEE ON HÌ èC D'S ROLE IN
LONG TERM EQUITABLE DISASTER
RECOVERY. YOU DO HAVE A HAND OUT
IN FRONT OF YOU. UM AND I WILL
GO THROUGH, UM, HOW LONG TERM
DISASTER RECOVERY FUNDS ARE
ALLOCATED TO HÌ èC Dð HOW HÌ
èC Dð ADMINISTERS THOSE
RESOURCES. UM AND, UH GO THROUGH
SOME EXAMPLES OF PRIOR AND
RECENT EFFORTS. SO HÌ CD'S ROLE
IS IN LONG TERM RECOVERY,
WORKING TO ADMINISTER FEDERAL U
S¼ DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR HUD
COMMUNITY. B BLOCK GRANT, UH,
DISASTER RECOVERY, OR CDBG. DR.
FUNDS FOR PRESIDENTIALLY
DECLARED MAJOR DISASTERS AND
THOSE FUNDS COME AFTER ALL OTHER
SOURCES OF FUNDING, AS YOU HAVE
HEARD, HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE,
INCLUDING FEMA, S¼ B, A
INSURANCE AND OUR
CONGRESSIONALLY APPROPRIATED FOR
VERY SPECIFIC USES. WHILE HÌ èC
Dð DOES NOT HAVE DEDICATED
RESOURCES OUTSIDE OF PRIOR, UH
èC Dð BG Dð R FUNDS DURING
DISASTERS HÌ èC Dð DOES WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH Kò Ó E S¼, UH,
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES, DISASTER CASE MANAGERS
, LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, UM,
PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES N G,
Ó S¼ CONTINUUM OF CARE AND
VARIOUS OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL
AGENCIES, INCLUDING, UH, FA, UH
AND HUD AND CAL FIRE, UH, TO
TRACK TO THE DAMAGE OF THE
DISASTER AS THE THAT NEEDS YOU
TO BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ALSO TO
SERVE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES AT
EVERY OPPORTUNITY. HÌ èC Dð IS
COMMITTED TO DEEP COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT AND THAT BEGINS
DURING THE RESPONSE PHASE
CONTINUES THROUGHOUT PLANNING
AND THROUGH NEW PROGRAM,
IMPLEMENTATION AND BEYOND. SO TO
HIGHLIGHT SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE
EFFORTS DURING THE 23 WINTER
STORMS, A SUPPORTED WITH
REDIRECTING EXISTING NON, UH èC
Dð BG Dð R FUNDS, UM AND
EXISTING STATE AWARDS FOR URGENT
NEEDS. UH INCLUDING FEDERAL
GRANTS, UM, AS WELL AS IN SANTA
CRUZ AND MONTEREY ARE
JURISDICTIONS WHO RECEIVE, UH,
FUNDS DIRECTLY FROM HÌ U HÌ èC
Dð COORDINATE WITH MERCED COUNTY
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY CALL Ó,
E, S¼ AND MERCED COUNTY
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE
TEMPORARY HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR
38 INDIVIDUALS, UM THROUGH THE
FELIX TORRES, Ó M S¼ CENTER,
AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA, UM, AND COULD
NOT FIND TEMPORARY HOUSING. ALL
WERE IN THE PTA COMMUNITY. WE
ALSO COORDINATE WITH AND HUMAN
SERVICE RECOVERY SUPPORT
FUNCTION AND PRODUCING MOLD
SUPPRESSION MATERIALS. UH, AFTER
FLOODS. UH, WE WORKED WITH
MULTIPLE STATE FEDERAL PARTNERS
ON THE RECOVERY NEEDS
ASSESSMENTS, UH, WHICH THEN
INFORMED OUR ACTION PLAN. WITH
EVERY NEW DISASTER. WE CONTINUE
TO EXPLORE HOW TO DEEPEN EARLY
COORDINATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT,
UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS AND WITH
THE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE IMPACTED
NEXUS AND BACKGROUND ON èC Dð
BG Tð R FUNDS SLIDE FOUR. THEY
ARE APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS AND
ALLOCATED BY HUD TO REBUILD
DISASTER IMPACTED AREAS AND
PROVIDE SEED FUNDING TO START
THE LONG TERM RECOVERY PROCESS
FOR PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED
DISASTERS. THEY ARE AN ALMOST
EXCLUSIVE SOURCE FOR LONG TERM
RECOVERY AS MENTIONED EARLIER
THERE. THESE ARE LAST IN FEDERAL
FUNDS FOR LONG TERM RECOVERY
AFTER ALL, OTHER SOURCES HAVE
BEEN EXHAUSTED AND ARE DESIGNED
WITH EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT
OUTCOMES TO BENEFIT UNMET NEEDS
OF THE MOST IMPACTED AND
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS,
INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH LOW
MODERATE INCOME. UM HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED GROUPS. PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES, UM, ELDERLY
POPULATIONS, PEOPLE WITH LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY AND OTHERS.
UM HÌ èC Dð S¼ HOUSING RECOVERY
PROGRAMS CREATE SAFE AND
AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR THE MOST
IMPACTED. WHILE REDUCING RISK
AND VULNERABILITY FOR FUTURE
DISASTERS, HÌ èC S¼
INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAD TO HAZARD
MITIGATION PROGRAMS, PRIORITIZE
BUILDING RESILIENCE AND REDUCE
RISKS WHERE THERE IS HIGH LEVELS
OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY. AGAIN
THESE FUNDS ONLY MEET A FRACTION
AS YOU'VE HEARD, UM FROM FOLKS
BEFORE ME, UH, OF UNMET. LONG
TERM RECOVERY NEEDS AND HAZARD
MITIGATION NEEDS ARE FELT IN THE
COMMUNITY MANY, MANY YEARS AFTER
THE DISASTER, SO TO ENSURE THAT
FUNDS UM CAN GO THE FURTHEST
RECOVERY AND HAZARD MITIGATION
FUNDS OFTEN NEED TO LEVERAGE.
OTHER SOURCES. I'LL USE THE
EXAMPLE OF THE TOWN OF PARADISE.
UM, WHERE CDB GDR FUNDS
REPRESENT ABOUT 25% OF TOTAL
DEVELOPMENT COSTS A èC Dð
ALLOCATED ABOUT 230 MILLION IN
FUNDS FOR 22 INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS. UH, THE TOWN LEVERAGED
, UH, ANOTHER 9 93 MILLION FOR,
UH, 10 OF THOSE PROJECTS AND, UH
AND THEY ARE STILL IN THE
PROCESS OF LEVERAGING ADDITIONAL
FUNDS FOR THE SEWER PROJECT. UM
FOR THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF
SEVEN. MULTIFAMILY HOUSING. UH,
PROJECTS TO WHERE THAT WILL
HOUSE. UM DISASTER SURVIVORS.
UH, HÌ èC Dð ALLOCATED AROUND
55 MILLION AND, UH, THE TOWN
OVER ANOTHER $188 MILLION.
MOVING TO SOME OF THE KEY
TIMELINES. UM WHICH IS A COMMON
QUESTION WHEN IT COMES TO èC Dð
BG Dð R FUNDS. UH SO ONCE A
DISASTER OCCURS IF THAT DISASTER
IS DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT TO
BE A MAJOR DISASTER, THIS
UNLOCKS FEMA I A AND RP A. IF
CONGRESS APPROVES THE ALLOCATION
. UM HÌ U APPLIES A FORMULA TO
ALLOCATE, UH, FUNDS ACROSS ALL,
UH, STATE GRANTEES OR OR
DISASTERS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN
THE NATION AND THEN HUD
ANNOUNCES THE FUNDS TO BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE STATE.
CALIFORNIA IN WHAT IS CALLED A
FEDERAL REGISTER. NOTICE THAT IS
, UH FR N THAT, UM, PROVIDES
ALL OF THE REGULATORY
REQUIREMENTS ELIGIBLE USES, ET
CETERA. THIS ENABLES HÌ èC Dð
TO THEN START THE ACTION PLAN
PROCESS. HISTORICALLY FOR
CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE WITHIN 1 TO 2 YEARS
AFTER A DISASTER, UM WITH THE 20
THREE GRAND AS AN ANOMALY,
HAVING, UH, UH, HAPPENED JUST
EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE DISASTER.
AND BEFORE EACH èC Dð CAN SPEND
FUNDS. HUD MUST APPROVE OUR
ACTION PLAN. THAT TIMELINE IS
SET BY HÌ AND IS REQUIRED OF ALL
STATE GRANTEES. IT'S NOT UNIQUE
TO CALIFORNIA. UH, SO USING THE
2023 ACTION PLAN, WHICH IS
CURRENTLY OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
AS AN EXAMPLE, UM, IT TAKES
AROUND EIGHT MONTHS. FROM UH,
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE TO, UH,
HAVE AN EXECUTED GRANT AGREEMENT
WITH HUD. UM, THE ACTION PLAN
REFLECTS THE UNMET NEEDS OF
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S
INFORMED BY BOTH OUR DEEP
ENGAGEMENT THAT STARTS EARLY ON.
UM AND THE DATA THAT HUD
PROVIDES YOU MOSTLY RELYING ON
THE N S¼ B A THAT WE SUPPLEMENT
WITH, UM VARIOUS OTHER SOURCES
OF DATA. UH, TO REALLY BRING
ABOUT THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. WE
WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. THIS UH
ROUND FOR THE 20 THREE GRANT
WORKING WITH MERCED AND SAN
JOAQUIN COUNTIES TO OBTAIN
INFORMATION ABOUT MOBILE HOME
IMPACTS. IMPACTS OF FARM WORKERS
, UH, WORKING WITH Dð èC M DATA
TO SUPPLEMENT THAT FEMA DATA AS
WELL. SO WE CAPTURED, UH, UNMET
NEEDS THAT WERE NOT INITIALLY
CAPTURED BY HAD FINALLY WE GET
INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
DIAGRAM IN YOUR HANDOUT IS VERY
SIMPLIFIED VERSION. THAT
TIMELINE. UM ON A LOT OF THAT IS
HAPPENING CONCURRENTLY. UH, SO
PROGRAMS HAVE LAUNCHED ANYWHERE
BETWEEN ONE TO THREE MONTHS AND
UP TO ONE YEAR LONGER FOR SELECT
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE RUN INTO
UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. THOSE
FOR GUNS WERE MAYBE FIRST IN
FIRST IN NATION FIRST, IN KIND,
THOSE VERY LARGE SCALE. UH
WILDFIRE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. UH,
IF COVID, UH, IF COVID WERE
OCCURRED IN THE IN THE PROGRAM
TIMELINE, AND THAT ALSO IMPACTED
UM, THE TIMELINE? UH, BUT WE'VE
IMPLEMENT DID CONTINUE
IMPROVEMENT. WE STREAMLINED,
REFINED AND INNOVATIVE TO
ACCELERATE OUR LAUNCH. IN A WORD
TIMELINES. UH MOST RECENT
PROGRAM, UH, WENT OUT JUST TWO
MONTHS AFTER WE HAD AN EXECUTED
GRANT AGREEMENT WITH HUD. THERE
ARE MULTIPLE STEPS. UM SOME OF
THOSE AGAIN ARE IN THE TIMELINE.
UH, IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, AND ANY
CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM REQUIRE A
FORMAL PROCESS, WHICH IS CALLED
AN ACTION PLAN PROCESS. THAT
PROCESS TAKES UP TO FIVE MONTHS
FOR HUD TO APPROVE BEFORE WE CAN
, UH, YOU KNOW, MOVE FUNDS
AROUND AND MAKE CHANGES TO THE
ACTION PLAN IF WE NEED TO MAKE
OTHER CHANGES, UM, THAT ARE IN
STATUTE, UM WE CANNOT. UH THERE
ARE WAIVERS, THOUGH WE CAN
SUBMIT AND GET APPROVAL FROM HUD
FOR TO, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, EXTEND
AN EXPENDITURE TIMELINE. THAT
WAIVER COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR
TO APPROVE SO WE DON'T, UH TEND
TO LEAN TO, UH TRY TO EXTEND THE
TIMELINE. HOWEVER, UM. SOME SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE IT TODAY.
CALIFORNIA HAS RECEIVED
APPROXIMATELY $1.7 BILLION IN
FUNDING FOR DISASTER YEAR. 1718
2021 23 HAS ADMINISTRATE
APPROXIMATELY 22 PROGRAMS OVER
30 COUNTIES. ALL OF THOSE FUNDS
ARE COMMITTED OR AWARDED, OR
CONDITIONALLY AWARDED AND
DESIGNATED FOR VERY SPECIFIC
USES. WE REPORT OUT QUARTERLY ON
EXPENDITURE AND PERFORMANCE
METRICS HAD PUBLISHES THOSE AS
WELL. CALIFORNIA IS ONLY THE
ONLY STATE TO ADMINISTER A WILD,
A LARGE SCALE WILD WILDFIRE
RECOVERY PROGRAM IN A MORE
RECENT RECIPIENT OF, UH FUNDS
FOR FLOODS AND STORMS, AS YOU
ARE AWARE, WILDFIRE RECOVERY
DOES ADD SIGNIFICANT
COMPLEXITIES TO RECOVERY EFFORTS
THAT FLOODS DO NOT, UH, SOME
EXAMPLES. JUST SOME ARE DEBRIS
REMOVAL, WHICH, UM, DELAYED OUR
PROGRAM, UH, REQUIRED US TO SORT
OF WAIT FOR THAT, AS A PRECURSOR
TOOK OVER A YEAR TO COMPLETE. UM
. 2021 PROGRAMS ARE WELL AND
INTO IMPLEMENTATION. THE 20
THREE ACTION PLAN IS ON ITS WAY.
UH, WE'RE READY TO LAUNCH THOSE
PROGRAMS SOON AFTER WE HAVE AN
EXECUTED GRANT AGREEMENT. I'M
ALMOST, UH TO CONCLUDING HERE.
UM I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME
RECENT EFFORTS. SO TO GIVE US
SOME EXAMPLES OF A REAL
TIMELINES, I'LL HIGHLIGHT UM
SANTA CRUZ AND TOWN OF PARADISE.
WHO UM, UH, WHO ARE IN
ATTENDANCE? UH, WITH MERCED, UH,
WHO'S INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING
20? THREE GRANT? UM, HERE'S AN
APPROXIMATE BREAKDOWN. UM THAT
YOU HAVE IN YOUR HAND OUT OF THE
FUNDS AND TIMELINES OF WHEN
THOSE FUNDS WERE MADE AVAILABLE.
SANTA CRUZ IN TOWN OF PARADISE,
WITH APPROXIMATELY 114 MILLION
AVAILABLE TO SANTA CRUZ FOR 2020
WILDFIRES AND AROUND 260. THREE
MILLION FOR THE TOWN OF
PARADISE. FINALLY FOR THE
JANUARY 20 THREE SEVERE WINTER
STORMS, UM, THAT SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPACTED. UH FLETA SANTA CRUZ
AND PAO AS YOU'VE HEARD, UM,
THERE WERE TWO DECLARATIONS AS
YOU'VE ALSO HEARD. ONLY ONE OF
THOSE RESULTED IN èC Dð BG Dð R
ALLOCATIONS. UM AND THOSE ARE
AVAILABLE TO MERCED AND SANTA
CRUZ. THERE ARE NÓ Dð R FUNDS
FOR POO AT THIS TIME, UM, THE
ACTION PLAN IS OUT FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT AS I MENTIONED, UH AND
IN IT, YOU WILL SEE THAT ME. IS
PROPOSED TO RECEIVE 11.2 MILLION
AND SIX POINT THREE FOR SANTA
CRUZ FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF
MOBILE HOME UNITS. UM MITIGATION
AS WELL. THERE WILL BE ELEVATED
AND AN ADDITIONAL 59 MILLION,
UH, TO ALL MID AREAS FOR
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROGRAM. UM
AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER, UH,
FULL RECOVERY REQUIRES ACCESSING
A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER FUNDING
SOURCES TO MAKE A COMMUNITY
WHOLE AND SOME OF THOSE SOURCES
ARE LISTED IN YOUR HANDOUT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL I WANT
TO THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. AND, UH, THANK THE
SECOND PANEL. UM SEE. FOR ROBERT
REAL QUICK WHEN THEY I GUESS THE
COUNTY OR THE STATE DECLARES
EMERGENCY AND THEY DO THE
PAPERWORK TO SUBMIT IT TO Ó E
S¼ FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE A TIME
FRAME FROM Ó E S¼ THAT ONCE
THEY RECEIVE IT THAT WE HAVE A
WEEK OR TWO WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT
IF THEY'RE GONNA BE GRANTED THE
OR WHO THAT WORKS. I DON'T KNOW
IF THERE'S A TIME FRAME FROM YOU
GUYS ONCE YOU RECEIVE THE
APPLICATION FOR DISASTER, SO IT
DEPENDS. RIGHT SO AS ALWAYS,
EVERYTHING DEPENDS. BUT IF
WE'RE, UM GOING TO, UM SUBMIT,
IF WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOING TO
RISE TO THE LEVEL, UM OF A MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATION, WE HAVE TO
MAKE THAT REQUEST WITHIN 30 DAYS
OR SEEK AN EXTENSION FOR THE
CLOSURE OF THE INCIDENT PERIOD.
RIGHT AND SO, UM, THE INCIDENT
PERIOD, DEPENDING ON THE EVENT
CAN BE A DAY OR IT CAN BE
SEVERAL WEEKS DEPENDING ON WHAT
IT IS, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO
INDIVIDUAL REQUESTED FOR STATE
ASSISTANCE, DEPENDING ON THE
LEVEL OF AUTHORIZATION BY THE
GOVERNOR. THE INDIVIDUAL REQUEST
FOR APPROVAL FOR PARTICULAR COST
CAN TAKE LONGER THAN THAT RIGHT,
AND IT'S BASED OFF OF A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, INCLUDING,
UM, SIMILAR, UM, COST ESTIMATES
THAT ARE SIMILAR TO FEMA IN
TERMS OF PER CAPITA INDICATORS
ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SIDE,
èC Dð A IS ULTIMATELY THE
STATE'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM, BUT ALSO LOOKS AT OTHER
FACTORS AS WELL. IN TERMS OF THE
, UM JURISDICTIONS, UM, FISCAL
CAPACITY AND HEALTH. UM UH, THE
FREQUENCY OF RECENT MASTERS AND
THEY IMPACTED JURISDICTION, ET
CETERA. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, UM,
YOU KNOW, CALOS OFFERS UP
RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GOVERNOR
CHOOSES TO ACT AS APPROPRIATELY.
UM I TALKED A LITTLE BIT BRIEFLY
ON THE OPENING AND REGARDING
COUPLE BILLS I WAS DOING, UM DO
YOU THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE
APPROACHES WE CAN DO AT THE AT
THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP YOU GUYS
WITH SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DEAL
WITH? AS FAR AS THE FUND OUR
COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES AND
INDIVIDUALS THAT OBVIOUSLY ARE
IN THIS KIND OF A UNIQUE
POSITION WHERE THEY MIGHT NOT
MEET THAT FEDERAL THRESHOLD FOR
ASSISTANCE, BUT AT LEAST AT
STATE LEVEL. WE CAN DO OUR OWN
PROGRAM, SO TO SPEAK TO HELP
COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT ARE
SUFFERING FROM A DISASTER. I
MEAN, THAT'S ONE APPROACH. I
DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OF
ANYTHING ELSE OUT THERE THAT
MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK AT TO MAYBE
HELP YOU GUYS AS WELL IN WHAT
YOU'RE DOING TO PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND
THANK YOU FOR THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION AS WELL. UM, SO IF I'M
INTERPRETING IT CORRECTLY, IN
TERMS OF HOW THE STATE CAN WORK
TOGETHER, AGENCIES AND
LEGISLATURE IT'S A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT WAYS. UM, IT IS A
CONTINUED DIAO, UH, BETWEEN US
AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. UM
IT'S CERTAINLY, UM, I KNOW IT
APPEARS TO BE SLOW AND
FRUSTRATING AND IT CERTAINLY CAN
BE A CHALLENGING WE DO MAKE
POSITIVE PROGRESS IN A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT AREAS. UM, AND TO BE
CLEAR MY JOB IS TO ADVOCATE FOR
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA NOT TO
BE A CHEERLEADER FOR FEDERAL
PARTNERS. BUT IT WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE IT WITH FEMA AND S¼
B A AND U S¼ Dð, A HAVE MADE
SOME POSITIVE CHANGES THAT WERE
ALSO TRACKING AND WE INTEND TO
FULLY LEVERAGE TO MAKE SURE THE
CALIFORNIANS GET THE FULL
BENEFIT OF THOSE CHANGES. SO UM,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY CAME OUT
WITH A POLICY FOR RURAL
DECLARATIONS I MENTIONED EARLIER
THAT SAN DIEGO UM RECEIVED
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE, BUT NOT
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. AND THAT IS A
BIT OF A, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, UH,
A BLACK SWAN OR, UH, YOU KNOW,
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.
IT'S FAR MORE OFTEN. THE REV.
WHERE THERE'S PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
ONLY, UH, BUT IF THERE IS AT
LEAST ONE HOME OR BUSINESS THAT
IT RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE WITHIN
A RURAL AREA THAT WILL TURN ON
THE S¼ B, A PROGRAM AND AS
DIRECTOR, SCANLAN NOTED EARLIER
THAT IS A LOAN PROGRAM. S¼ P A
HAS DOUBLED THE YEAR LOAN
AMOUNTS AND MADE THEIR TERMS
MUCH MORE APPEALING IN TERMS OF
NÓ PAYMENTS FOR A YEAR AND, UM,
SO THAT ESSENTIALLY, SOMEBODY
CAN GET AN INTEREST FREE LOAN
INTEREST FREE LOAN, DEPENDING ON
THE TERMS, AT LEAST FOR A
LIMITED DURATION. SO IT IS A
TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX THAT IS MORE
AVAILABLE, UM, ALSO PREVIOUS UM.
S¼ P WOULD NOT MAKE A FINAL
DETERMINATION SO LONG AS THERE
WAS A PENDING REQUEST FROM THE
STATE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR EVEN A
PENDING APPEAL, RIGHT? AND SO
THAT CAN TAKE MONTHS. SOMETIMES
ONE EXAMPLE BEING THE CALDOR
FIRE RIGHT WHERE THE STATE UM,
THOUGHT PUT TOGETHER A VERY, UM
UM WE THOUGHT, COMPREHENSIVE
REQUEST WE WERE DENIED. WE PUT
FORTH WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A VERY
COMPREHENSIVE APPEAL. AND ALL
THAT TOOK TIME AND THE
PREVIOUSLY THE S¼ B A WAS NOT
ALLOWED TO MAKE A DETERMINATION
UNTIL THAT WAS RESOLVED TO AVOID
DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS. UM,
THEY NÓ. THAT'S MORE RECENT
PROGRAM. I I'M BLANKING ON THE
NAME BUT AN EXPEDITED
DECLARATION PROCESS SO THAT IF
THAT REQUEST HAS BEEN PENDING
FOR MORE THAN 20 DAYS TO THE
PRESIDENT, THAT THEY CAN GO
AHEAD AND DO AN ADMINISTRATIVE
DECLARATION, RIGHT, AND THEN
THEY CAN RECONCILE AFTER THE
FACT AND SO I JUST WANNA
ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE THERE IS
IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ALL OF
US AT ALL LEVELS GO ARE
ATTRACTING THAT TO MAKE THE MOST
OF IT TO FILL. UH, YOU KNOW,
MORE TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX. UM
THE U S¼ Dð A, UM, LAST YEAR
KIND OF QUIETLY BASED OFF OF
2022 DISASTERS, BUT GAVE US
SOME, UM, A LOT OF, UH, THE
EARLY WINTER STORMS OF LAST YEAR
TO BE ELIGIBLE BECAUSE THE
INCIDENT PERIOD WAS ACTUALLY
DECEMBER 27TH OF 2022 TO RE
RECEIVE INCREASED CONSIDERATION
AND LOWER REQUIREMENTS WHEN IT
CAME TO AGE OR INCOME FOR THEIR
RURAL REPAIR PROGRAM, AND IT'S
NOT THE EASIEST PROGRAM IN THE
WORLD TO NAVIGATE. UM, IT CAN
EITHER BE A REIMBURSEMENT OR A
GRANT ON THE FRONT. AS LONG AS
YOU PROVIDE QUOTES FROM
CONTRACTORS, ETCETERA. IT'S A
BIT BURDENSOME IN TERMS OF
PAPERWORK. UM, BUT THE TERMS OF
A REALLY PRETTY FANTASTIC YOU
COULD RECEIVE UP TO DEPENDING ON
AGE AND INCOME UP TO AROUND. UM
80,000 SOMETHING DOLLARS IN A
GRANT AND $10,000, POTENTIALLY
ADDITIONALLY, IN A GRANT TO A
LOAN. UM THEY ALSO DID A PILOT
PROGRAM FOR THE LATER SPRINGS OR
LATE LATER WINTER STORMS AND
EARLY SPRING STORMS WHERE THEY
WERE GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO SOME
OF OUR OTHER EVENTS. THEY ALSO
GAVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THE
FERNDALE EARTHQUAKE, AND, UH THE
END OF 2022 AS WELL, NÓ. WE'RE
WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR AS
MANY PEOPLE AS WE WOULD LIKE
APPLYING FOR THAT WE'RE STILL
TRYING TO GET EDUCATION OUT
THERE AND PUSH FOR IT. WE'VE PUT
TOGETHER FLYERS TO HELP
SOCIALIZE THE PROGRAM DONE
SPECIALIZED WEBINARS FOR THESE
IMPACTED ELIGIBLE COMMUNITIES,
UM, STILL PRETTY LOW IN TERMS OF
THAT, UH, THE APPLICATION AND
APPROVAL RIGHT? BUT THE AVERAGE
DOLLAR AMOUNTS COMING UP FROM
THOSE GRANTS OR RIGHT NOW ARE
ABOUT $36,000, WHICH IS
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT
PEOPLE RECEIVE FROM FEMA, WHICH
IS USUALLY MORE IN THE FOUR OR
$5000 RANGE. AND THEN UM,
LASTLY. NOT LEAST TO OUR FRIENDS
AT FEMA. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
OUT A FEW IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH
WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MARCH 22ND
OF THIS YEAR. UM JUST SO WE HAVE
AWARENESS THAT WE INTEND TO MAKE
SURE WE GET THE MOST OUT OF
THIS. UH THEY'VE MADE A NUMBER
OF KEY IMPROVEMENTS. UM THAT
BEGINNING WITH, UM UM,
STANDARDIZING WHAT THEY CALL
SERIOUS NEEDS ASSISTANCE RIGHT
NOW. IT'S CALLED CONTINUING
NEEDS ASSISTANCE, BUT MAKING ALL
AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT OF $750
RIGHT OFF THE GATE FOR ELIGIBLE
SURVIVORS. UM, THEY ARE ALSO,
UM, CREATING SOMETHING CALLED
DISPLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE
PREVIOUSLY AS WE ALL KNOW, AND
CERTAINLY FROM THE DISASTERS IN
PAO AND PDA, UM, FREQUENTLY HAD
SURVIVORS SLEEPING ON FAMILY
MEMBERS, COUCHES, ET CETERA. UM
THERE ANY COST THAT THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS MIGHT HAVE, UM, INCURRED
FOR TAKING THOSE ON WAS NOT
REIMBURSABLE AND WOULD NOT COULD
NOT EVEN IF THEY PUT TOGETHER A
LEASE. IT WAS GENERALLY NOT
ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
UNLESS THAT LEASE, UM WAS
AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC,
ETCETERA. SO PRACTICALLY
SPEAKING, IT DIDN'T REALLY
HAPPEN, BUT NOW THEY WILL AND
THE DEVIL IS GOING TO BE IN THE
DETAILS WHICH WE WILL TRACK
CLOSELY, BUT THEY WILL OFFER
SOME FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT TO
HELP WITH THOSE COSTS OF
COMMUNITY HELPING COMMUNITY,
RIGHT. UM WE'RE ALSO THEY'RE
SIMPLIFYING THE OTHER NEEDS
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. UM, SO THAT
IT USED TO BE THE REQUIREMENT
YOU HAD TO REGISTER WITH THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
PRIOR TO RECEIVING THAT
ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY
REIMBURSEMENT, DURABLE MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT, ET CETERA. BUT THERE
IS NÓ LONGER THE CASE. WE'LL SEE
HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, BUT IT SEEMS
TO BE AAA POSITIVE PROGRESSION.
UM UNDER INSURANCE IS A
SIGNIFICANT ONE. I WANNA CALL
OUT BECAUSE PREVIOUSLY IF A
SURVIVOR HAD, UM, AN INSURANCE
SETTLEMENT THAT EXCEEDED THE
FEMA, MAX GRANT, CURRENTLY
$42,500. THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR FREE ASSISTANCE, RIGHT? SO
EVEN IF THEY HAD DOWN $500,000
OF UNMET NEED AND HAD INSURANCE,
THEY WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE. FEMA
IS CHANGING THAT NOW SO THAT
THEY CAN STILL RECEIVE
ASSISTANCE UP TO THEIR MAX
GRANT. SO A POSITIVE STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. WE'VE LONG SAID
THAT, UM STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA
THAT HAVE WILDFIRE AS A
SIGNIFICANT THREAT. WHERE WE
KNOW UNDER INSURANCE IS A IS A
REALITY HERE ARE PENALIZED FOR
HAVING INSURANCE, SO IT'S A
SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION. UM ALSO, THEY, UM.
WILL BE PAYING FOR GREATER
ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR
FOLKS WITH ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL
NEEDS. UM IT WAS MENTIONED
EARLIER IN THE SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, DON'T NEED A LOAN AFTER A
DISASTER. SO ONE SMALL CHANGE IN
THE FEMICIDE IS THAT
ENTREPRENEURS, SELF EMPLOYED
FOLKS, UH, GIG INDUSTRY FOLKS,
SELF EMPLOYED TRADESPEOPLE, UM,
WILL BE ABLE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE
FUNDING FOR THEIR TOOLS FOR
THEIR JOBS NOW, RIGHT SO QUICKLY
, AS WELL WITHOUT HAVING TO GO
THROUGH THAT LOAN PROCESS, AND
THEN YOU WILL BE STREAMLINING
THE UM, APPLICATION APPEAL
PROCESS IN THE FOR LIGHT
APPLICANTS SO THAT THEY NÓ
LONGER NEED TO PROVIDE
DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT THEIR
APPEAL FOR A LATE REGISTRATION
RIGHT NOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT ALL
OF THAT IS A MOOT POINT. IF WE
DON'T HAVE THE DECLARATION IN
HAND TO BEGIN WITH, AND THERE
ARE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THE
STATES LIKE LARGE STATES LIKE
CALIFORNIA, UM, FACE WHEN, UM UM
RECEIVING A MAJOR DISASTER
DECLARATION FOR BOTH PA BUT
ESPECIALLY THE INDIVIDUAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. I'LL STOP
THERE. I THINK I'VE BEEN MAYBE A
LONG WINDED ANSWER, BUT I'M
CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR PART.
THAT'S GOOD. I I'M GLAD THAT A
LOT OF USEFUL INFORMATION
OBVIOUSLY MY JOB IS JUST HOW WE
MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO
LEARN FROM THESE EVENTS THAT
WE'RE HAVING OFFICE.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE HAVING MORE
AND MORE BECAUSE CLIMATE CHANGE
IS REAL. AND HOW DO WE PUT
OURSELVES AT A BETTER POSITION
TO RESPOND AND PROVIDE SERVICES
TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED? SO WITH
THAT? I WANNA THANK THE SECOND
PANEL FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
AND NOW I WILL OPEN IT UP TO
PUBLIC COMMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S ANY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC WHO WANT TO COME FORWARD
FOR A COMMENT. SEEN HERE IN NÓ
GOING ONCE. TWICE I THINK OUR
PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW CLOSED.
AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR COMING HERE TO
PRESENT AND TO TALK ABOUT, UH,
THESE ISSUES FACING OUR OUR
STATE FROM RECOVERING FROM
DISASTERS WITH THAT OUR HEARING
IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED. THANK YOU.