LaMalfa Ensures Wildfire Victims Will Not Have to Pay for FEMA Debris Removal
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement ensuring that FEMA will not seek reimbursement for debris removal services for wildfire victims.
LaMalfa said: "After this week's news that FEMA and the State of California may be dipping into PG&E's wildfire victims compensation fund, some began to worry that FEMA may ask to be reimbused from people's claims against PG&E for their debris and hazard tree removal. My office and I have been on the phone and in meetings with FEMA, PG&E, and local governments to ensure that no reimbursement to the federal government will be sought for any debris removal services or for housing assistance. I encourage anyone who has not yet filed a Right of Entry (ROE) form for debris or hazard tree removal to please do so as there is no cost to you. I am working to ensure that any funds paid to citizens harmed by PG&E stay with them and are not sought for any reimbursement. The ongoing fire recovery efforts are of the utmost importance to me, my staff, and the community."
If you wish to enroll in the state program for debris and hazard tree removal, the deadline to fill out your ROE is Friday January 17th. If you do not wish to participate in the program, you must remove your own hazard trees in order to comply with local ordinances. The deadline to submit the Inspection Access Form for those removing the trees themselves is also on January 17th. You can find more information about how to fill out either of those forms here.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.