MIDDLETOWN >> The Valley Fire Task Force held its first public meeting at the Twin Pine Casino in Middletown on Tuesday, giving survivors an update on the recovery, clarifying misinformation, and allowing the public to bring new issues and concerns to light.
One of those issues was introduced by Cobb survivor Jill Scott, who moved to Hidden Valley after her home was destroyed. Although she estimated her losses at $70,000, she said she was only given $1,400 for rental assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency — FEMA — because she exceeded the income requirement.
“It’s difficult when you’re a tax-paying, hard-working citizen and you are entitled to nothing,” Scott said.
Scott is just one of many survivors who went into the task force meeting with different expectations. They asked questions ranging from hydroseeding to FEMA rumors. Their comments reflected distress and frustration.
One resident expressed irritation with the dead trees around his property and the cost to clean them up.
“You guys come in and say, ‘your lot cleanup is done.’ Well I’ve got 30 standing trees that are burnt black. I’ve got trees that PG&E felled that the lot cleanup people had to move in order to clean the lot,” he said to the task force. “You guys are trying to recover your money, but where is that money going to come from for me to pay the $8,000-$10,000 to get my lot cleaned up?”
The recovery group — a 20-member coalition comprised of Lake County directors of different branches and state, federal, and non-profit representatives — sought to clear up misinformation Valley Fire victims may have heard.
Headed and moderated by long term recovery coordinator Carol Huchingson, each member presented a report individually. From public health to District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, each representative gave audience members a status update, especially finance and disaster statistics.
Recovery will be costly. According to the county auditor controller Cathy Saderlund, 28 listed projects are going to CalOES and FEMA. Public Works will handle 10 projects with estimated cost of $6.4 million. Additionally, Special Districts will have eight projects, approximately at $2.6 million.
At best, the county’s share of the cost would be $991,000 but could easily be as high as $3.7 million if the county does not meet the claiming requirements or eligibility for the state and federal recovery agencies, she said.
Those numbers are fluid, including the loss data. According to her research, the county estimated property tax loss at $2.2 million — $934,000 would be missing from the county this year and $1 million was lost from schools, colleges, and the St. Helena Hospital, Clearlake, Saderlund said.
Those numbers followed reports of damage. Nearly 170 sewer connections were lost in Middletown. The water system in Cobb was destroyed and Special Districts is forced to rebuild it, Compliance Coordinator Jan Coppinger said, which may cost $3.5 million.
The FEMA representative, Dalia Cohen, also shared some information. According to her numbers, 2,475 people have registered for assistance from the agency. FEMA has given out more than $7 million in aid to Lake County, Cohen said.
Right now, FEMA has only sent three temporary dwellings, with plans to establish sites that hold 40 or more units. None of the group sites will be established in the Valley Fire area. She addressed that issue and said that finding sites for temporary housing is difficult because the fire area is in a flood zone.
“We cannot put our mobile homes in flood zones, that would people in harm’s way,” she said. “No one wants to come out in a fire and end up in a flood.”
FEMA has two options, she claimed, and both of them are in Clearlake because it has mobile home parks that are currently in operation.
All the presentations lasted more than 90 minutes, with a bevy of information. However, the audience members were not given any handouts besides a very basic agenda.
Survivors were given an hour to ask questions and make comment
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock told the Record-Bee that the meetings need to have more efficient communication.
“We need to be more concise with our reports,” Comstock said.
When asked about the frustrations of the crowd, he said he understood.
“A lot of people are frustrated,” he said. “They want to rebuild right away, but we just can’t immediately do it.”
