HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03061984 - 1.43 'TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS r
FROM: Cecil Williams, Director, OES Contra
Costa
DATE: March 6 , 1984 COUNY
SUBJECT: Federal Disaster Declarations
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Board accept the enclosed report and authorize the Chair to sign letters to
Messers Vickers, FEMA Regional Director and Medigovich, Director, State OES.
BACKGROUND:
See Attached Report.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATUR
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE /
gyp_APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) 4
1
ACTION OF BOARD ON a rC h 6. U1 984-
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUF
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION T/
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OFA
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHf
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED March 6,/
Off_ic.e. of Emergency Services
J.R. OLSSON, COU/N
AND EX OFFICIO C
Mses/res BY
Helen F. m4rino
Contra OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
CCosta DIVISION OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE
osta 50 Glacier Dr., Martinez, Co. 94553 415-228-5000
County
February 280 1984
MEMORANDUM
To: Members ofB d of Supervisors
From: Cecil Will am rector
Subject: Federal Disa er Declarations
Background
On November 18, 1983, the California Office of Emergency Services informed the
counties in this state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had
established new criteria for data submittals in support of a request for
Federal Disaster Declarations. These data were also required from all
political subdivisions and special districts in the affected areas within any
one county. Moreover, these data were required to be obtained and submitted
with an affected county's request. At the time, it was stated that these new
criteria, outlined in "Format 06", were to be complied with by all counties
and even applied to requests for assistance "under
private-sector... . . .programs."
A number of California counties, Emergency Services, Public Works and other
agencies charged with disaster response and recovery functions strongly
objected to the wide range and specificity of the new data requirements. It
was felt that most of the new data would be very difficult and time consuming
to obtain and, indeed, some items of data would be virtually impossible to
provide--especially so, given the conditions and demands on time imposed under
typical disaster situations.
Most counties' views may be summarized from a letter sent to Mr. Louis
Giuffrida, Director, FEMA by the CSAC:
• •• .The new requirements have the effect of delaying a federal disaster
declaration; impaired the ability of local governments to provide critical
assistance in a timely manner; and have created a hardship for local
communities who experience a disaster and want to seek federal assistrance
thus making it more difficult for disaster assistance to be delivered to
those most in need. ... .
• • . The counties feel Format No. 6 doesn't comply with the intent of
Public Law 96-511, 'The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,' ' ...to minimize
the federal paperwork burden for individuals, small business, state and
local governments, and other persons.. . ' and certainly seems not to
conform with the intent of Public Law 93-288, to expedite the rendering of
aid, assistance, and emergency services to devastated areas."
000155
w..
To: Board of Supervisors
Re: Federal Disaster Declarations
In addition, it was felt by many county public works agencies that the
administration of Federal assistance for repairing damage to county road net
Infrastructures, in the aftermath of disasters, was fraught with unnecessary
delays and too many layers of agencies with review authority.
Following actions by several counties including Santa Cruz and Marin, meetings
were arranged between local officials and high level managers from FEMA and
State OES. Further, an exchange of letters between the affected jurisdictions
and FEMA Headquarters in Washington took place.
As a direct result of these actions, we are happy to report that the vast bulk
of data formerly "required" under FEMA Format No. 6 is no longer required.
The standing data requirements for a request for a Federal disaster
declaration have been reduced to the following:
"The magnitude and severity of the event in terms of--
o dollar losses to public and private property,
o health and safety issues,
o impacts of significant problems, and
o financial data, for only major local jurisdictions that seek assistance
to include availability of any emergency funds, general fund balance
and status of applicable budgets for damages involved, such as roads,
bridges or flood control."
This is a very material improvement over the situation perceived to exist
after November 18, last year. However, the convoluted administration of road
repairs seem for the moment to remain in place.
The good offices of Mr. Robert L. Vickers, Regional director of FEMA, Region
IR and Mr. William Medigovich, Director, California Office of Emergency
Services were both instrumental and indispensable in resolving and rescinding
Format No. 6 data requirements.
We, therefore, recommend that the Board of Supervisors express this county's
thanks and appreciation for their efforts on our behalf in the form of a
suitable letter to each of those gentlemen.
0641A
000I.56