FEMA to Slater Fire victims: register now for benefits

Oct. 30--If there is one thing FEMA wants people who lost their homes in the Slater Fire to know, it's that they should register as soon as possible for benefits.

That's the message that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton conveyed during a meeting Wednesday in Yreka, which included California Office of Emergency Services representatives, Siskiyou County officials, Congressman Doug LaMalfa and District 5 supervisor Ray Haupt.

Evacuation orders lifted in Happy Camp

As of Oct. 31, the county is lifting all Slater Fire evacuation orders and allowing people to return to their homes, according to Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Jasen Vela. He asks that people do not put trailers on their property until after a Nov. 2 meeting, to be held at the Happy Camp High School gymnasium, during which Cal OES and FEMA representatives will discuss the next phases of recovery. The meeting is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, officials gathered at the county's Emergency Operation Center after returning from a trip to Happy Camp to survey the damage and get a better sense of the community's unique needs in the wake of the Sept. 8 Slater Fire, when 261 homes were destroyed.

Vela said his main concern is the housing situation for those who lost their homes, particularly because winter is looming. However, "all the wheels seem to be turning," Vela said. Work to remove the most hazardous trees has been ongoing and electricity has been restored to much of the area, making him feel comfortable letting people return.

"Unfortunately, this isn't our first rodeo," said Vela about the process of cleaning up after fires, but Happy Camp's isolation makes the task more of a challenge.

Vela also addressed a rumor that Red Cross was terminating assistance for about 200 fire victims currently housed in five Siskiyou County motels on Nov. 1. He said that is not true.

Some families are living in RVs and even tents. Others have fled the area and are staying in Oregon or in the Humboldt area. However, Vela said the majority of Happy Campers are eager to return home.

Siskiyou County CAO Angela Davis noted that 40 of Happy Camp High School's 70 students are currently homeless and that Happy Campers want to return to their community.

How to apply

FEMA's Fenton said Siskiyou County is one of 10 California counties under the same presidental disaster declaration, issued on Oct. 16. Homeowners or renters affected by the Slater Fire can apply for individual assistance in three ways: by calling (800) 621-3362; online at DisasterAssistance.gov; or through FEMA's app.

Fenton said people should go through their insurance first. However, some people are uninsured or underinsured, and FEMA will take that into account. He added that FEMA $200,000 has already been distributed to those affected by the Slater Fire.

There are a variety of ways FEMA can assist people and benefits extend 18 months after the fire to help people back on their feet. In addition to housing, FEMA can help with disaster-related expenses such as personal property replacement, child care, transportation, medical, dental, funeral, moving and storage and other needs.

Fenton talked about the different options Siskiyou County has for providing temporary housing, including RVs and FEMA trailers -- although he said RVs and fifth wheels are preferable because infrastructure isn't necessary to set them up.

LaMalfa agreed that RVs are preferable and noted the difficulties Butte County had getting FEMA trailers set up in Gridley after the Camp Fire in 2018.

LaMalfa asked if debris removal could happen more quickly than the Dec. 1 date that was mentioned -- if there was a way to get moving now and "dot the i's and cross the t's later."

Winter is coming

Mark Ghilarducci, Director of Cal OES, assured LaMalfa that the process is moving along. He said that local contractors are preferable for largescale debris removal projects like these.

Vela said he's also concerned about some of the roads that are more susceptible to flash flooding and washouts after the fire ripped through. A handful of privately owned bridges were also destroyed in the fire, he said.

Ghilarducci told Vela that they'll prioritize problem areas and said temporary bridges could be built on a case by case basis to assure access for debris removal.

Haupt called attention to the amount of rain and snow that Happy Camp gets in the winter. He said many people in the town were affected by the fire -- including federal employees and business owners -- "people who keep the town rolling."

Haupt added that a priority for many in Happy Camp is the reopening of Greyback Road, which runs from the town of 800 to Cave Junction, Ore. and provides access to Grants Pass and Crescent City in the summer months.

"It's used more than Highway 96 when it's open," Haupt explained.

Vela said great progress has been made to reopen Greyback Road and the U.S. Forest Service is working at a fast pace to remove dangerous trees on both sides of the road.

Haupt said when working on the first few miles of the road near Happy Camp, 250 million board feet of timber were removed from the area.

The 156,000 acre Slater Fire, which was first reported on the morning of Sept. 8 amid high temperatures and gusty winds, tore through the town of Happy Camp before moving north toward the Oregon border. As of Thursday afternoon, the Slater Fire was still burning and was 85% contained. Its cause is still under investigation, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The most important thing, Fenton said, is that people register with FEMA so they can be put into the system for case management.

"Then we can see what we can provide to them," he said.

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