Assistance center opening for Sylmar fire victims

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Office of Emergency Management

1275 North Eastern Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90063

(323) 980-2260

Media Contact

For Immediate Release

Anne Maria Tafoya, County of Los Angeles

213-792-5127

Lisa Hayes, City of Los Angeles

213-978-0596

**PRESS RELEASE**

OPENING OF LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR

LOS ANGELES COUNTY “SAYRE” (SYLMAR) FIRE VICTIMS

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – The Los Angeles County Operational Area in

coordination with the City of Los Angeles and the State Office of Emergency

Services will open a Local Assistance Center for fire victims of the “Sayre

(Sylmar) Fire.”

The Local Assistance Center will serve as a one-stop resource for disaster relief

services, including information on how to replace records lost in the fire, file

insurance claims and apply for assistance and housing. It will provide a single

place for victims of the wildfire to get help in starting their recovery process.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a State of Emergency declaration

for Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara Counties for the November 2008,

wildfires. This declaration will assist fire victims with resources such as grants,

temporary housing, disaster unemployment assistance, and low interest loans

for businesses. A Presidential Disaster Declaration has also been issued which

will provide additional assistance to fire victims.

The Local Assistance Center will open on Thursday, November 20. The

hours of operation for the center are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6

p.m.; Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The

hours and days are subject to change. The Local Assistance Center will be

closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 28.

The location of the Local Assistance Center that will open on Thursday,

November 20, is:

Sylmar Recreation Center

13109 Borden Ave.

Sylmar, CA 91342

Various Federal, State, County, City and other local agencies will be

represented at the Local Assistance Center. The agencies expected to

participate include:

FEDERAL

FEMA

SBA

Internal Revenue Service

STATE

Office of Emergency Services

Department of Insurance

State Contractor’s License Board

State Franchise Tax Board

Board of Equalization

Employment Development Department

Department of Motor Vehicles

Department of Public Health Vital records

California Veteran’s Affairs

COUNTY

Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)

Department of Public Works – Building Safety

Mental Health

Community Senior Services

County Assessor’s Office

County Consumer Affairs

Environmental Health

Housing Development and Community

Housing Authority Sec. 8 (CDC)

LOS ANGELES CITY

City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department

Los Angeles City Animal Services

Los Angeles City Department on Disability

Los Angeles City Building and Safety

Los Angeles City Housing

NON-PROFITS

TZU Chi Foundation

211 LA County