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