House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee Issues Testimony From California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
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"Chairman Barletta, Ranking Member Titus, and members of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Thank you very much for the opportunity to address the Subcommittee on what ended up being one of the worst fire seasons in
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"This testimony will focus on response and recovery to the 2017 wildfires, including lessons learned, and recommendations for the future to mitigate damages, increase preparedness, and aid first responders.
The 2017 California Wildfires
"Beginning on
"The October and December fires were simply a crescendo to an already long and exhausting fire season. Over the course of 2017, a total of 9,133 fires scorched an estimated 1.24 million acres of land across the state. The lack of precipitation between 2012 and 2015 represented the driest seasons in
Coordinating Rapid, Effective Response
"Almost immediately after these wildfires began, it became clear that additional resources would be necessary to supplement local firefighting efforts. Cal OES, through the State's Mutual Aid System and through the activation of the National Emergency Management Assistance Compact, worked to provide rapid and systematic mobilization, organization, and operation of fire, law enforcement, and other emergency services, including thousands of
"As was the case during the 2017
Debris Removal
"Recovery efforts to remove disaster-related debris from these disasters are unprecedented in scale. This massive undertaking represents the single largest debris removal project in
"In
"The partnership between USACE and the
"The Incident Command System (ICS), a foundational principle of command and control in emergency management, was not utilized by USACE to organize at the field level. Given the large number of contractors and subcontractors involved due to the complexity of the debris removal operations, ICS was necessary to elevate and solve problems quickly with a singular point of contact. Limitations on the span of control within ICS force effective and efficient communication between organizational hierarchies. With the help of
"Debris removal is a vital first step in allowing communities to rebuild after disasters. During the initial debris removal phase in
"However, the recovery process for both wildfire events also highlighted successes in the partnership between Cal OES and USACE.
"There were debates in the field about ground-level policies and procedures, but these were able to be resolved amicably with compromise. For example, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards vary between federal and state agencies. Where the state deemed these PPE requirements unnecessary and even dangerous to operational safety, the state and federal agencies were able to conclude the application of PPE requirements depended on individual circumstances. This flexibility and rationality between partner agencies fostered greater cooperation and allowed for rapid clean-up of hazardous household waste.
Individual Assistance and Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Programs
"In coordination with local jurisdictions, Local
"As it has in numerous past disasters, the state encountered a significant road block in rapidly obtaining a declaration for the SBA Disaster Loan Program. SBA policy prohibits the SBA from authorizing the Disaster Loan Program, which brings vital low-interest loans to individuals and businesses in affected regions, until
"After the 2014 Napa Earthquake, the SBA Disaster Loan Program approval process lasted ten weeks. During this time, some businesses closed their doors and others moved out of the area, but ultimately the economic recovery of the region was harmed. Given these challenges, the SBA disaster assistance program request process needs to be expedited to get essential funding to qualified individuals, households, and businesses as quickly as possible and to keep the economy from suffering in the days and weeks immediately following a major disaster event. The SBA Administrator should be unburdened from red tape preventing declaration when damages clearly meet the SBA criteria, regardless a state's intent to request Stafford Act programs through
Short-Term and Long-Term Housing Solutions
"Housing solutions for survivors continues to be a top priority for Cal OES. Shortly after the October fires began, Cal OES and
"With regard to the long-term housing solutions, Cal OES continues to work in close coordination with local government leaders, state housing partners, and the
Infrastructure Investments
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"The devastation of the 2017 California wildfires highlighted the importance of robust, reliable emergency alert and communications systems. During the October wildfires, the
"In addition to ensuring the network is available, there is a need for a unified emergency alert system. Since different methods are currently being used to reach the public, it would be helpful to have a standardized message format for all delivery platforms that could be sent one time to all users. Education, best practices and outreach is also needed to help local officials determine which alerting method or methods should be used during a disaster.
"Federal support with legislation and funding is needed to improve 9-1-1 resiliencies. Hardening of the cellular networks would initially require the
Emergency Management Performance Grants
"As the
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"In fiscal year 2017,
"However, according to data from a survey taken by the
Conclusion
"The economic impact of these events cannot be understated as suppression and recovery costs have exceeded all estimated budgetary needs. We are appreciative that the
"Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today and for your ongoing support of disaster resiliency, response, and recovery in the face of increasingly escalating threats. I look forward to answering your questions."
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