SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Thousands of homes and businesses were burned to the ground in mid-November, as wildfires spread through portions of Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Countless other structures were damaged — many so severely as to make them uninhabitable. As recovery efforts continue throughout the damaged areas, free advice is available to those beginning to repair or rebuild their homes and businesses.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local hardware and home improvement stores have teamed-up to answer questions and provide tips and techniques geared to do-it-yourselfers and contractors on how to make homes and businesses better, stronger, safer, and less susceptible to the next disaster.
This week, the FEMA mitigation specialists will be in Ventura County at:
Lowe’s301 W. Gonzales Rd.Oxnard, CA 93036 Wednesday thru Saturday, Jan. 9-12, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.Sunday, Jan. 13. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Monday, Jan. 14. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Free reference booklets, in English and Spanish, with information on how to protect your home or business from natural disasters, will be available at each session. More information about strengthening property can be found at fema.gov/what-mitigation.
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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY/TDD).
FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.