Schwarzenegger Declares State of Emergency

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

From the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

June 27, 2008

Gov. Schwarzenegger Requests Federal Emergency Declaration to Help Californians Cope with Effects of Unprecedented Wildfires.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent the following letter to President Bush through Nancy Ward, Federal Emergency Management Agency Regional Administrator, Region IX, requesting that he expeditiously declare an emergency for the State of California as a result of the more than 1,000 fires ignited by lightning and the 265,000 acres that have burned to date. The Governor is requesting direct federal assistance, debris removal and emergency protective measures, including air and ground firefighting resources, evacuation operations and sheltering of displaced people and animals for the counties of Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity.

Text of the letter:

June 26, 2008

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Through: Ms. Nancy Ward
Regional Administrator, Region IX
Federal Emergency Management Agency
1111 Broadway
Suite 1200
Oakland, California 94607-4052

Dear Mr. President,

Under the provisions of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq. (the Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.35, I request that you expeditiously declare an emergency for the State of California as a result of wildfires, exacerbated by drought conditions, high winds and lightning strikes beginning on or about May 22, 2008 and continuing throughout Northern California, including, but not limited to, the counties of Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity.

In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under state law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on May 23, 2008, in accordance with the Stafford Act. This includes declaring a state of emergency to exist in the counties of Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity.

At my request, the U.S. Small Business Administration has declared Butte and Santa Cruz counties as primary disaster areas for low-interest loans. However, many households will not qualify for SBA assistance and voluntary organizations will not have adequate resources to address their unmet needs.

I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and affected local governments, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster. I am specifically requesting direct federal assistance, debris removal and emergency protective measures, including: firefighting (including air and ground resources), evacuation operations and sheltering of displaced people and animals.

Also pursuant to 502(a)(6) and 408 of the Stafford Act, I request activation of your Individuals and Households Program, as many of the residents of the declared counties lack adequate insurance or other means for recovery.

California is experiencing an unprecedented number of wildfires, with more than 1,000 fires ignited by lightning. Currently, there are 32 major wildfires actively burning, in 16 of California’s counties. More than 265,000 acres have burned, and most of the major fires are less than 20 percent contained. These wildfires have resulted in serious injuries to emergency personnel and others. More than 284 homes have already been damaged or destroyed, and numerous businesses and public landmarks are destroyed or damaged. In addition, several thousand people have been evacuated from their homes.

Further, the National Weather Service is forecasting dry thunderstorms over the weekend. This portends additional lightning strikes and more fires.

On June 4, 2008, I proclaimed a state of emergency for drought conditions. Statewide rainfall has been below normal in 2007 and 2008, with many communities receiving only 20 percent of normal rainfall in 2007 and Northern California this year experiencing the driest spring on record. These dry conditions and limited water supply have exacerbated the fires and increased the threat of a wildfire disaster.

State firefighting resources are already completely engaged. Many firefighters have been on the fire lines for weeks and must be relieved for their health and safety.

We have already enlisted significant resources from the United States Forest Service and Department of Defense. We have also drawn all available resources from neighboring states though the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

These fires, and the fires likely to ensue over the next several days, not only threaten people and property, but also pose a potential disaster to the natural environment and critical infrastructure. Many of these fires are in critical watershed areas, where anticipated runoff and mudslides from fall rain storms could damage the ecosystem, threaten lives and property and further diminish our already-depleted water supplies.

I certify that, for this emergency, the state and local governments will assume all applicable nonfederal shares of costs required by the Stafford Act.

I request direct federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property. All state and local emergency response resources have been fully utilized to support the firefighting, evacuations and emergency sheltering operations. I am specifically requesting public assistance Category A and B and direct federal assistance under the Stafford Act, for the counties of Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity.

The State of California agrees that it will, with respect to direct federal assistance:

1. Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-way necessary to accomplish the approved work.

2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work and indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work.

3. Provide reimbursement to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the nonfederal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement.

4. Assist the performing federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

Pursuant to the Stafford Act, the state agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster. The state agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris. I have designated Mr. Henry Renteria as the state coordinating officer for this request. He will work with FEMA in damage assessments and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

FCJ Editor

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