California Fires Disaster Response 2007

Southern California Fires Initial Response 11/2/07

Achievements

Fire Fighter Thank you cards
Approx 200 cards signed thus far
New horizons School Irvine
Rescheduled signing for Monday
Please see attachment


Satisfy the Ricon Band of Luiseno Indian Needs list
Cleaning kit
20 IR Cleaning kits and face mask delivered to the San Pasqual Indian Reservation Fire Station
100 IR Cleaning kits delivered to the Rincon Nation
After the assessment trip on the ground More Cleaning Kits Supplies were ordered, purchased and picked up at will call for later assembly
Water
6,000 + Water bottles scheduled to be picked up Monday Morning
Canned/Dry Goods
What logistics would be needed for the Fundraising Department to successfully complete a 5 day food drive with local and national contacts to complete the last goal from the initial assessment of the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians on 10/29/07 to have items ready for loading by next Saturday 11/10/07?

Assess the current situation at the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indian Reservation
Fire Victims
64 homes burned
19 home owner in possession of insurance
Spoke with tribal members and tribal elders, shared laughs about painful things
Felt the fresh anguish of this destructive fire because of the lack of regional support
Toured their burnt homes, farms and businesses
Mushroom factory burned
Citrus Groves Burned
Livestock lost
Majority of the homes burned were owned by Elders in the tribe
These tribal elders and other evacuees are currently being housed in the Harahan Owned Casino
Ray the Tribal Housing Official with who took me on our extensive tour he was able to provide detailed info of the fire and current situation
This heroic man clocked in three 24 hour shifts during the fire battle SubhanALLAH
This tribe had to fight their own fires
Dogs and cats appeared dead passed out and drained from smoke inhalation
These animals were fortunately saved and nourished
No serious injuries outside of singed hair/skin smoke inhalation
Raymond manager of the Tribal Housing Authority and other staff thanked us sincerely and were amazed that IR was willing to help in their recovery in Indian Country despite the minimal media coverage and lack of assistance and compassion to this present point
Our extensive tour of the Ricon Band and the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indian reservation took place immediately after FEMA’s initial 15 min assessment of property damage
The completion of this FEMA assessment will determine how soon we can begin any proposed cleanup plans

What aid is FEMA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) supplying?
Below is a direct quote from FEMA’s ‘Help After disaster Applicants Guide to the Individuals & Households Programs (IHP)’ found in the Limitations section
“IHP will not cover all of your losses from damage to your property (home, personal property, household goods) that resulted from the disaster. IHP is not intended to restore your damaged property to its condition before the disaster. In some cases, IHP may only provide enough money, up to the program limits, for you to return an item to service. IHP does no cover business-related losses that resulted from the disaster. By law, IHP cannot provide money to you for losses that are covered by your insurance. While some money is available through IHP, most disaster aid from the Federal government is in the form of loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) that must be repaid. Applicants to IHP may be required to seek help from SBA first, before being considered for certain types of IHP help.
A complete copy of this guide can be given upon request
The Casino Factor in terms of monetary compensation cannot be assumed to be superior to the FEMA’s compensation in the language above. A
The Harahan Casino is currently housing the Elders Affected by the Fires
Having a Casino on tribal land does not ensure the revenue goes to the recovery of these Tribes
Ray the Tribal Housing Staff Member/Fire Fighter/Tour Guide said that the tribe thus far can only depend on helping themselves (approx 700 members including elders and children) with the limited resources they have for their recovery
IR has an opportunity to give these distressed people help in rebuilding a Mushroom factory, Replant Citrus trees, replace livestock, clean burnt home sites and rebuild them

Goals
Short Term Goals
Thank You Cards
Distribute signed thank you cards to Fighters
Their are two or tree fire crews and other disaster support staff staying at the same hotel as myself in Irvine
Distribute the 1st batch of signed cards to Fire Fighters and Disaster Support Staff in Irvine
Cleaning Kits
Distribute 150-200 cleaning kits to the Rincon and La Jolla reservation
Purchase 200 hygiene kits from supplier
Lable kits
Insert kits into cleaning Kit buckets
Distribute Water to the Rincon and La Jolla reservation
Assemble kits 11/4/07
Distribute kits at the commencement of the Cleanup Project
Fire Damage Cleanup Project
Have 50 + solid volunteers ready for initial cleanup
This can commence after FEMA has officially completed and taken their assessment
Citrus Tree Planting Projects
Mushroom Factory Rebuilding Project
Home Rebuilding project

Comments concerns


My first experience with disaster response 1st began as a wild land fires with the native Americans in Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation in 2000 and with the Nez Perce Native Americans with the brother Ronald Rebers (Project Coordinator Assistant at the Baton Rouge Office) on their reservation in Idaho of 2002


Its vital I get copies of photos and footage of the CA Fires Initial Response for a complete power point presentation ASAP

Southern California Fires Initial Response 11/1/07

Achievements from 10/30/07

Fire Fighter thank you cards
Khalida has scheduled times for Fire Fighter personal card signings
New Horizons Irvine 949-552-5411
New Horizons Pasadena 626-795-5186
Completed with pictures and video footage
Orange Crescent School 714-531-1451

Contact FedEx
Khalida has Proofed and acquired the 800 thank you cards

Satisfying the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians Needs lists
Cleaning Kits
Core components have be itemized and purchased with local distributor
Khalida acquired aprrox 1000 first aid kits & 100 nail clippers from the Umma Clinic to be included from the cleaning kits
200 hygiene kits previously assembled at Garden Grove Masjid were retrieved to be included into the Cleaning Kits
120 Cleaning kits assembled 10/31/07
Palletized, labeled and loaded for 11/1/01 delivery
Almas has volunteers available for future Cleaning Kit assembly
Water
Khalidah confirmed the large donation of water from the Nestle Company
4 pallets/6,000 bottles To be Picked up 11/1/07

San Diego Assessment trip 10/24/07
Abdul Gahfoour had a response on 10/31/07 from the Salvation Army interested in partnering with IR in future projects
Kathy
Office (619) 446-0282
Cell (310) 963-5115

Goals

IR Fire Fighter thank you cards
Have 400 cards signed
Orange Crescent School 714-531-1451
11/1/07 12:00PM
New Horizons Irvine 949-552-5411
11/1/07

Satisfying the Rincon Nation of Luiseno Indians Needs lists
Cleaning Kits
Deliver 120 Cleaning kits assembled
Palletized, labeled and loaded for delivery
Water
Delivery 6,000 bottles

Asses the current situation at the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indian Reservation
Fire victims
What is their condition/needs
Are some still in shelters and what are the needs of the shelter?
What aid is FEMA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) supplying?
What is the foreseen long term need?

Southern California Fires Initial Response 10/30/07

Goals

Fire Fighter thank you cards
Contact schools
Determine best time for student signing of the cards
Contact FedEx
Determine cost and two locations for printing

Satisfying the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians Needs lists
Cleaning Kits
Cost of one individual kit
Cost for two hundred
Solidify logistics for the assembly and transportation of kits
Water
Follow up on Nestle lead
Canned Goods
Outreach to the Muslim community for the Ricon Nation of Luiseno


Support/Assistance

Fire Fighter thank you cards
Kalidah is contacting schools to determine the best time for the personalization/signing of cards
Satisfying the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians Needs lists
Cleaning Kits
I will need help purchasing cleaning supplies
Shouldn’t be much different then the purchase of the hygiene supplies a few days ago
I will need help assembling the cleaning kits with volunteers
I believe Bro Abdul Gafour was crucial in the logistics (van, volunteers, supplies) for the hygiene kits
I need a van to transport water and canned goods and other supplies ASAP
I will also need assistance getting in-kind donation of canned goods, bottled water and cleaning supplies by reaching out to the Muslim community
We have two hundred first aid kits ready to be combined with the Cleaning kits
I would like distribute two hundred previously made hygiene kits as well
I will contract professional assistance for the final loading/transportation of the Cleaning kits to the Ricon Nation Reservation
Documentation (video/pics)
I need video footage and pics of the cards signings at the Islamic Schools
I need video footage and pics of the assembly of the kits
I need video footage and pics of the Assessment trip to the Reservation
If no one is using the Sony DSR PD170 camcorder at the OC office I would like to use it for all of these projects

California Fires 2007 Initial assesmnet of the Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians

CA Fires Initial Response 10/29/07

Ricon Nation of Luiseno Indians
P.O. Box 68 Valley Center, CA 92082 ph:760-749-1051 fax:760-749-8901
Contact: Dick Watenpaugh (Tribal Administrator)
(760) 644-4771

After speaking with Mr. Watenpaugh I was able to ascertain the immediate and future needs of this tribes members who were affected by the recent Fires on their reservation. All supplies and resources are to be dropped off at the Ricon Fire Station located on the Ricon National Reservation. My contact at the Fire Station is Chief Rodriguez & Captain Donovan
Immediate Items needed

Water
Canned Goods
Cleaning supplies
Special mention of cleaning supplies to those returning to their homes was made my the Tribal Administrator
Future Needs
64 homes/trailers have been destroyed/damaged
Of these 64 homes only 19 of these residents have home insurance
45 residences are either total or heavy loss
These native Americans will need assistance with replacing items within their homes as well as replacing their homes

Goals

I want to visit this reservation ASAP but I do not want to go to on this initial assessment trip empty handed with current knowledge of the need.
I want to focus our initial efforts for this tribe in supplying the evacuees and those affected with cleaning supplies.
I would like to assemble cleaning kits similar to the cleaning kits we distributed during the aftermath of Katrina.
I need to know how much money we can allocate for this cleaning kits project
My goal to donate/deliver 200 professionally compiled, packaged and labeled IR cleaning kits within the next few days
Evacuees who have homes are expected to be begin returning home in the next few days

CA Fires Current Situation 10/29/07

California wildfire overall statistics

Acreage: 516,356
Homes destroyed: 2,013
Deaths: Seven directly due to fire; seven involving evacuees, including infirmity, age, accident.
Injuries: 71 firefighters, 27 civilians
Current evacuees: at least 1,432 people in 13 shelters


Harris Fire
90,750 acres 70 miles southeast of San Diego. 70 percent contained. 206 homes, 247 outbuildings, one commercial building destroyed. Five killed. 21 civilians, 16 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $9.7 million.
Witch Fire About 197,990 acres from Witch Creek to Rancho Santa Fe. 90 percent contained. 1,040 homes, 30 commercial properties, 414 outbuildings destroyed. Two killed. Two civilians, 38 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $11.3 million.

Poomacha Fire: 49,150 acres on La Jolla Indian Reservation and northeastern county territory. 50 percent contained. 136 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed. 14 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.2 million.

Slide Fire
12,789 acres in Green Valley Lake area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 85 percent contained. 201 homes, three outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $8 million.

Grass Valley Fire
1,247 acres in Grass Valley area of the San Bernardino Mountains. 95 percent contained. 174 homes, two outbuildings destroyed. Firefighting cost: $4.6 million.

Santiago Fire
28,012 acres east of Irvine. 65 percent contained. 16 homes destroyed. Eight structures damaged. Eight firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $7.9 million.

Ranch Fire
58,401 acres in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County near Piru. 97 percent contained. One home, nine outbuildings destroyed. One firefighter injured. Firefighting cost: $9 million. Major Contained Fires:

Rice Fire
9,000 acres in Fallbrook. 206 homes, 40 outbuildings, 91 autos, two commercial properties destroyed. 200 homes threatened. Three firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $3.1 million.

Buckweed
38,356 acres near Agua Dulce. 21 homes, 22 outbuildings, two bridges destroyed. Three civilians, two firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $7.4 million.

Canyon
4,565 acres in Malibu. Six homes, two businesses, one church destroyed. Three firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.8 million.

Magic
2,824 acres.

Horno/Ammo Fire
21,084 acres on Camp Pendleton Marine base.

Comments/Intentions

Most of the fires are for the most part in mop-up (checking for hotspots) and rehabilitation stage (planting trees, shrubs).
This signals the short time period left for firefighters before being demobilized
Thank you cards need to be distributed ASAP
Poomacha Fire: 49,150 acres on La Jolla Indian Reservation and northeastern county territory. 50 percent contained. 136 homes, 19 outbuildings destroyed. 14 firefighters injured. Firefighting cost: $5.2 million
Intend to visit and asses this fire on the ground
Help the inhabitant of the 136 homes destroyed
Most likely an impoverished area
Without home insurance
In needed of resources
10,000 people have applied for FEMA assistance
Need to make connection with FEMA Voluntary Liaison for the CA Fires
I expect a lead soon

California Fires 2007 Initial Response 10/27/2007

Goals

Finalize Fire Fighter Thank You Card

Khalidah contacted the Fire Departments and has determined the protocol for distributing Cards

Khalidah has Identified the schools with young student to personalize thank you cards

Edith completed the graphic design of four different thank you cards

Ready to be proofed and produced by FEDEX

Southern California Fires Initial Response 10/26/07

Goals


Meet with community members and other NGO’s at the Islamic Center of San Diego

This Meeting has been coordinated by the Sheikh at the Islamic center of San Diego
Mustafa said that he would be able to attend this meeting and network with the other players

Visit the Del, Mar Fairground

This is the site that all the evacuees were being directed to.
It was stated that this shelter had no intention of closing until the last evacuee has left
I asked Mustafa to Visit this major Shelter after the meeting @ the Islamic Center of San Diego

Begin Finalizing Ideas for gifts/care packages/gift cards to Fire Fighters

Southern California Fires 2007 Initial Response 10/25/2007

Goals/Achievments


Shelter Assessment

All the shelters visited and assessed the day before (10/24/07) are either demobilizing or occupied at low capacity with more then enough resources

Establish Booth at Qualcom Stadium
This shelter was demobilizing and directing current evacuees to other shelters especially the Del Mar fair grounds
Gave my contact info to a FEMA representative
Expressed IR’s desire to temporarily house evacuees

Visit FEMA Site In the city of Ramona

This site was entirely closed/barricaded by Police and Military personnel
No resources needed at this point

Visit Garden Grove Masjid where hygiene kits were to be compiled by volunteers

Kits need to be modified before distribution

Southern California Fires Initial Response 10/24/07

CA Fires Initial Response 10/24/07

Goals

• Meet with the Community Leader in the San Diego 
• Inquire, identify and asses the situation through their eyes and ears find the best way we can take our assessment of the current situation 
• Identify and Visit Shelters

1. Identify Demographics
   
2. Assemble 3 TeamsAre shelters at full capacity?
3. How Much room left in shelters?
4. Are people still coming?
5. Are people leaving?
6. What are the needs?
7. Compile data base of names and contact info of families providing housing
8. Identify the best ways to assist specific  targets 
9. Get Info from FEMA and NGO’s
10. Statistics of what areas are allowed to return (estimated population)
11. What areas are still being evacuated
12. Get Islamic Relief on the general FEMA Resource list
13. Establish relationship with FEMA voluntary agency Liaison
14. Find specific needs
15. List ways we can help them in their effort
16. Make/Write announcement for Juma to help notify IR resources

• FEDEX Hygiene kits to the Islamic Center of San Diego from the IR Baton Rouge warehouse
o Scheduled to arrive Friday 10/26/07