The State Senate voted 32-1 today to pass SB 477, a bill by Senator Nell Soto (D – Pomona) that seeks additional state involvement in helping communities to recover from disasters. The lone "No" vote was cast by Senator Tom McClintock (R -- Thousand Oaks); the bill now heads to the Assembly.

“Communities struck by disasters often experience a void in human services in the areas of immediate response and long-term recovery,” Soto said. “We owe it to the victims to improve public policy based on lessons learned.”

The California Emergency Services Act sets forth the duties of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) in overseeing and coordinating various emergency response programs in the state.  OES is responsible for assuring the state's readiness to respond to and recover from the effects of emergencies that threaten lives, property and the environment.  OES assists local governments and state agencies in developing emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation plans, for terrorism, earthquakes, floods, fires, hazardous materials incidents and dam breaks.

Soto’s bill would authorize OES to establish a model process that would be made available to assist a community in recovering from a state-declared disaster, and which may include the following:

• Designating the office as an advisor and facilitator for the community recovery process;
• Providing that OES be onsite as soon as practicable after a state-declared disaster occurs;
• Designating the office to facilitate the use of temporary services, including, but not limited to, communications systems, direct assistance to families and businesses, crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, food/water/housing and clothing, farm service assistance, tax relief, insurance, and legal services;
• Authorizing OES to facilitate the establishment of temporary structures, including local  assistance centers, shower/bathroom facilities, and temporary administrative offices;
• Designating the office to encourage the participation of non-governmental organizations in the recovery process to supplement activities undertaken by federal and/or local entities.

Soto’s bill is directly related to the experience of the victims of the 2003 wild fires that occurred in Southern California and is intended to address community recovery after the federal government and emergency personnel leave the area.

The Senator noted that while assistance centers were set up by the federal government and OES during the initial evacuation and the days that followed to provide loans or grants to the victims – and that while the assistance was of tremendous benefit – it “remains true that about a year-and-a-half after the fires it is estimated that less than 10% of the people whose homes were destroyed have acquired the necessary permits to rebuild.

In addition, Soto said, “Fire victims have told me that they have experienced deficiencies in the management of the recovery process, the provision of adequate interim shelter and housing, as well as planning and resources available for long-term, post-disaster housing, and adequate knowledge and preparation by the public for effective recovery.”