LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced Friday that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) funds will be available to Lake County.

This is funding for local communities to use for emergency protective measures. Emergency protective measures include all activities that are undertaken by a community before, during, and following a disaster that are necessary to eliminate or reduce an immediate threat to life, public health, or safety.

Examples of eligible activities include the establishment of temporary shelters and community service facilities, critical power generation, demolition of unsafe buildings, and the operation of emergency communications systems.
 
“The federal response to the Valley Fire has been nothing short of spectacular,” said Thompson. “Working with FEMA and other federal agencies we have been able to rapidly secure funds to help suppress the fire, repair our towns, reopen businesses and rebuild people’s homes. We face a long and hard road back, but this assistance will help make sure we fully recover.”
 
Earlier this week, Thompson also announced that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance (IA) funds will be available to help individuals rebuild, repair and replace housing and other personal property not covered by insurance.
 
Thompson wrote to the White House, urging the President to approve IA. And, upon return to Washington, D.C. Thompson had conversations with the White House and Regional Administrator for FEMA Region IX Robert J. Fenton, Jr. about the need to quickly expedite the approval of IA.
 
Individuals can register with FEMA the following ways:

– Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov .
– Apply via smartphone at m.fema.gov.
– Constituents may call the registration phone number at 1-800-621-3362; those who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

Additionally, Thompson announced that low-interest Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are now available to help businesses and residents impacted by the Valley Fire.

Businesses and nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.

Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Hazard Mitigation (HM) Funds have also made available. These funds provide assistance to the state for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
 
FEMA previously approved the State of California’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration for the Valley Fire.

The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAGP) allows for the “mitigation, management, and control” of fires burning on publicly or privately owned forest or grasslands which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
 
The FEMA grant will cover 75 percent of the costs for various fire suppression, safety and recovery needs.
 
The Valley fire, which started on Sept. 12, has burned more than 76,000 acres. The fire destroyed more than 1,900 structures, including more than 1,200 homes. Thousands of people have been displaced.

Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.