The CARE (Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort) program will include regular updates and bulletins, technical assistance for residents on constructing mudslide diversions, a “one-stop” website with fire recovery and storm preparation information, public service announcements, and a speaker’s bureau for community meetings.
The first meeting of CARE was on Friday, September 25 and over 120 city and town councilmembers and city managers from at-risk communities joined officials from the county and federal government including county Public Works, the US Forest Service, the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO), the US Geological Survey, Caltrans and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Preliminary fire damage assessments were presented by the federal burn area emergency recovery (BAER) team.
“Initial assessments indicate a high probability of mudslides damage for our fire-damaged communities,” Antonovich said. “The danger presented by the largest fire in County history is far from over and requires effective coordination and communication to minimize the impact of mudslides and protect our residents and their homes.”