FEMA Smart Rebuilding Practices
FEMA will have representatives at local home improvement stores to provide information on smart rebuilding practices. Information may include replanting, building materials and rebuilding methods to make their homes more resistant to future damages. Teams will be available at the following locations/dates:
Home Depot - 20642 Golden Triangle Rd - Dates: 11/12/2007 - 11/21/2007
Home Depot - 28033 Newhall Ranch Rd - Dates: 11/23/2007 - 12/5/2007
Lowes - 26415 Bouquet Canyon Rd - Dates: 11/23/2007 - 12/5/2007
Los Angeles County Assesor's Office Info
The Los Angeles County Assesor's Office is proactively working towards processing property tax relief for qualitfying property owners as soon as possible.
If your property has suffered damage of $10,000 or more as a result of the recent fires in Los Angeles County, you are eligible for a reduction in your property taxes. Your property will be reappraised and you will receive a corrected tax bill or refund. The adjustment and proration of taxes will be based upon the reduction in value from the date of damage to the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2008.
Click here to download the Application for Reassessment of Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity. The application must be filed within 12 months of the occurrence of the damage.
Visit http://assessor.lacounty.gov for more info.
Local Assistance Center Information
UPDATE - 11/8/07
FEMA will be leaving this Friday, 11/9/07. SBA will remain through November 20th. Their hours will be as follows:
Monday - Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday's - 9am-1pm
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The Los Angeles County Operational Area will close the three Local Assistance Centers for fire victims at the close of business (2 p.m.) on Sunday, November 4, 2007.
Two federal agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), will remain at certain sites, as indicated below, for an additional two weeks to continue to assist individuals and business owners with the completion of their applications for assistance.
- George A. Caravalho Sports Complex
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,
Santa Clarita, CA 91350-2974
(Local Assistance Center is closed. FEMA and SBA representation will continue.)
- Castaic Regional Sports Complex
31230 N. Castaic Road, Castaic, CA 91384
(Local Assistance Center is closed. No FEMA or SBA representation.)
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in Los Angeles County can continue to apply for assistance by registering with FEMA online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA (3362) OR 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers for California will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Special Notice From Edison
Southern California Edison Urges its Customers to Beware of ImpostorsPosing as Utility Service Workers
ROSEMEAD, Calif., Oct. 29, 2007— Southern California Edison (SCE) is warning its fire-affected customers who are returning to homes without power to be wary of con artists who pose as utility workers.
SCE is urging its customers to be alert for suspicious men or women claiming to be SCE employees or contractors working for the utility. Typically, these impostors promise to restore power to customers’ homes for a fee or offer to collect money from a customer to avoid having their power turned off.
“We want to make sure that our customers, who have already been through a very tough time, don’t end up being taken advantage of by someone posing as one of our employees,” said RobertSypult, SCE director of corporate security.
“We strongly urge them to make every effort to verify the identity of anyone claiming to represent SCE, especially if asked for money or personal information. No legitimate utility worker will object to being checked.”
Customers should immediately end conversations with suspicious service representatives and report the incident to their local police or SCE.
“It is a crime to impersonate a utility worker—in person or over the phone—and impostors will be prosecuted,” Sypult said.
Both SCE and law enforcement officials suggest that the best safeguard against impostors who arrive at your home is to have the worker wait outside until the person’s identity can be verified. If contacted by phone, SCE recommends that customers get as much information about the caller as possible, including name, department and a business phone number.
SCE recommends customers keep these tips in mind to avoid becoming a victim of a scam:
- Never reveal your credit card, ATM, or telephone calling-card numbers (or PIN numbers) to anyone. An SCE employee will not ask for money, credit card information or to use your phone. An exception is in rural areas, such as Lake Arrowhead, Tehachapi, Kernville, Catalina, Bishop, Mammoth, Ridgecrest and Blythe. In these areas, SCE representatives maySCE Urges its Customers to Beware of Impostors Posing as Utility Service Workers accept money, as well as offer the option to make a quick check payment. If you have any concerns, call SCE’s toll free number at (800) 655-4555 to verify the collections activity.
- Be suspicious of anyone who arrives at your house without an appointment asking to check an appliance, wiring, or suggesting that there may be some other electrical problem at your residence.
- If someone calls and requests you to leave your residence at a specific time for a utility-related cause, be sure to confirm the call with SCE. This could be a burglary set up by the caller.
- Do not let anyone into your home (whether in uniform or not) unless you verify who they are by checking their identification and asking him or her to state the reason for the visit. SCE employees involved in collection activities have an SCE identification badge, wear uniforms and drive marked company vehicles.
- If you are at all suspicious of a person representing themselves as an SCE (or any other utility) employee, contact the local police department immediately or contact SCE at (800) 655-4555.
How You Can Help
Donations:
The SCV Disaster Coalition is now prepared to accept donations that will go to help the local families who were impacted by this disaster. Here's how you can help:
They are asking for donations of either gift cards or money. There are three drop off locations here in town, (KHTS Radio, City Hall, or The Senior Center) or you can mail your donation. You may also donate online at scvcoalition.com. Any of these three places will provide you with a receipt for your donation.
If you would like to mail your donation, please mail it to:
(make sure to make the check out to the SCV Disaster Coalition...not KHTS. )
SCV Disaster Coalition
Care Of KHTS AM 1220 Radio
27225 Camp Plenty Rd, Suite 8
Santa Clarita, CA 91351
The American Red Cross is taking donations for the Southland Fires. Santa Clarita has its own Red Cross district office that is part of the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Chapter. If you would like your donation to the Red Cross to remain serving the Santa Clarita Valley, please send your donations to our local Red Cross Office and make certain you note: Santa Clarita Fires on the memo of your check:
American Red Cross
23838 West Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA. 91355
(661) 259-1805
Heads Up Therapy - Here is a list of items that are needed for Heads Up Therapy.
STABLE SUPPLIES:
| Fly Spray - both sprays and roll-ons. |
Brushes |
| Body Clippers |
Polo wraps - leg protection |
| Small clippers for trimmings |
Quilted pillow wraps - for legs |
| Small buckets |
1 cribbing strap |
| Hoof dressings |
|
RIDING EQUIPMENT:
| Bridles |
English Saddles - needs to be All purpose models / |
| Bits |
with high cantle & knee pads. Mainly kids size. |
| Reins |
Safety stirrups - peacock |
| 1 breastplate |
Saddle pads |
| Western Saddles |
Lunge whip |
| Cinches & girths |
Lunge lines |
The 12 Heads Up horses are currently being accomodated and a private
residence in Sand Canyon. No plans have been announced yet regarding
the lesson and training program's resuming. First, the needs of the
horses and facility must be met to ensure safety for the animals and
riders.
Volunteers are needed to help with clean-up and horse care.
Please deliver items to:
Ecole Lathrop
Valencia Sport Saddlery
26046 Bouquet Canyon Rd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
661-255-6713
The Optimist Club of Santa Clarita is accepting monetary donations & gift cards for Jim Tindall, Head's Up Therapy Operations Director, who was badly burned and has lost everything.
Checks should be made out to: SCV Newhall Optimist Club, for Jim Tindall & Family.
The mailing address is: P.O. Box 1446, Canyon Country, 91351.
The Santa Clarita Valley Blood Donor Center is closed and in turn assisting those affected by the local disaster. As the American Red Cross assists those in need and hospital workers at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital continue to care for those who have been hurt or are suffering from the fire’s aftermath, let’s do what we can and help by donating blood in our local community. Come and donate at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Nov. 8, 2007, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., at the Henry Mayo/COC Clinical Education Center.
Click Here to make an appointment or e-mail mistrybs@henrymayo.com
If you or anyone you know is in need of public services such as child care, health services, CalWORKs, food stamps or general relief, social security information, housing, consumer protection and more, please visit www.LACountyHelps.org. This website offers information about what services are available, where they are located, how to apply and includes a brief, anonymous, self-screening eligibility questionnaire.
Volunteer Information: We've received some calls from people who are asking about how they can help. As we receive requests for assistance, we will pass them along to our very generous community. At this time, www.volunteerinscv.org is the place to go to both volunteer your assistance and connect with individuals and agencies needing assistance. Their phone number is 661-250-3720.
Notable Fire Damages
Fire Incident Summary: Location of Damanged Properties - November 8 2007 
Air Quality / City Recreation Programs Update - October 26th
South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) urges individuals to curtail outdoor activities in areas affected by smoke. For more detailed info visit the AQMD's web site.
Health Advisory #1: Practice Safe Clean-Up After the Fires
LOS ANGELES COUNTY – Health officials from Los Angeles County are advising people to take caution as they begin to clean-up after the recent fires in Malibu Canyon, Canyon Country, and the Santa Clarita area. Ash, soot, dust, and other airborne particles may have been deposited inside and outside of homes and businesses because of the fires. While ash from wildfires is relatively non-toxic and similar to ash that may be found in a home fireplace, it may be irritating to the skin, nose and throat. Exposure to ash in air might trigger asthmatic attacks in people who already have asthma.
Ash Clean-up:
- Do not allow children to play in ash, especially in wet or damp ash.
- Wash toys before children play with them.
- Bathe pets to rid them of ash.
- During clean-up, wear gloves such as household dish washing gloves, long sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid skin contact. If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible.
- If you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees, wash the fruit or vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
- Avoid getting ash into the air as much as possible. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air. Instead, gentle sweeping of indoor and outdoor surfaces, followed by wet mopping, is the best way to clean an area with ash. A solution of bleach and water may be used to disinfect an area, if desired.
- Shop vacuums and regular household vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles, but instead blow such particles into the air where they can be breathed. Use of regular vacuums is not advised however HEPA-filter vacuums could be used.
- A dust mask, such as a surgical mask or a mask rated N-95, may be worn during clean-up to avoid breathing in ash and other airborne particles.
- Avoid washing ash into storm drains whenever possible. Use as little water as possible when cleaning an area of ash.
- Collected ash may be disposed of in the regular trash by placing it in a plastic trash bag first.
- If a job appears to be too big, hire a professional cleaning service. There are several businesses in LA County that specialize in post-fire clean-up that may be found in the phone book. Please contact a professional if there is substantial damage or destruction to a structure.
Food Safety:
Some homeowners may find that their kitchens have ash, soot, dust, and other airborne particles. The following is advised to maintain food safety:
- Plastic bottles of liquid, such as water, that have been covered with ash should be discarded. It is not enough to rinse off the bottle as these particles contaminate the caps, making them very difficult to decontaminate.
- Food that has not been stored in waterproof or airtight containers and has been covered with ash should be discarded. This includes products that have been stored in cardboard or other soft packaging.
- Food stored in sealed, previously unopened glass or metal cans or jars, such as baby food, should be safe for use. Clean before opening and transfer the contents to another container before eating.
- For those that have experienced power outages, it is best to throw away perishable food, such as meat, dairy products and eggs. Items that have defrosted in the freezer during a power outage should also be discarded.
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health overseas environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.lapublichealth.org.
All outdoor City recreation programs will resume on Sunday, October 28th.
In areas where unhealthful air quality is forecast, as well as anywhere that smoke is seen or smelled or ash is falling:
- everyone should avoid all vigorous exertion, indoors or out;
- residents with heart disease, respiratory diseases including asthma, as well as the elderly and children should remain indoors;
- keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside. In these cases, seek alternate shelter; and
- turn on an air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to minimize outdoor smoke entering the house.
Road Closure Updates
November 15th: Vasquez Canyon Road is now Open from Bouquet Canyon ro Sierra Highway.
AT&T Emergency Support
AT&T California is providing certain voice mail and call forwarding features, free of charge, for 30 days to displaced consumers and small businesses. For customers who need a local service line installed at a temporary or new location the Line Connection Fee will be waived. AT&T
residential customers displaced by the fires can call 1-877-722-6787 and small business customers can call 1-800-750-2355 to set up the following
services:
- Call Forwarding - Automatically forwards calls to any phone
number.
- Remote Access to Call Forwarding - Allows displaced customers to
dial in and direct normal home phone calls to another number from any phone.
- Remote Call Forwarding - Allows displaced customers to
permanently forward their number to another number.
- Message Center/Voice Mail Series 50/50+ - Allows displaced
customers to retrieve messages left at their home or business phone line from any location, as well leave a greeting telling callers their status.
- Phone Line - For displaced AT&T customers who set up phone
service at a new location, AT&T will waive installation charges
Images
Bridge at Bouquet/Vasquez Canyon
Bridge at Bouquet/Vasquez Canyon
Mayor McLean Speaks at the Governor's Press Conference
Santa Clarita City Council, Speaker Nunez, Gov. Schwarzenegger, Assemblyman Smyth
