Washington – FEMA Administrator Dean Criswell said on Sunday LA officials “were very prepared” For devastating wildfireKeeping in mind that this area is prone to fire. But “they've never seen 100-mile-per-hour winds fueling a fire,” he said.
“Those winds and weather conditions really impact, you know, where this fire is going to go, but more importantly, how they're able to try to control it in those first few hours and days.” Are,” Criswell said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan”,
Communities in Los Angeles have been devastated by wildfires in recent days that have killed at least 16 people, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and displaced thousands, officials said. strong winds that fanned the flames Recent days are expected to pick up again this week.
The FEMA administrator said he had no information about the cause of the wildfire at this time, although he said it would be investigated. She urged that as the winds are expected to return, she wants people to “make sure they're listening carefully to what local officials are saying” to avoid damage.
CBS News
When it comes to rebuilding, Criswell said insurance is a “real concern,” citing reports of Californians losing their coverage before the fires. He said insurance is “the number one resource to help families in their rebuilding process.”
Criswell said FEMA programs are meant to “help start the recovery process,” not replace insurance. But he said without insurance, “families will have to find other means to be able to rebuild.”
The maximum FEMA grant level is less than $44,000. Criswell acknowledged that in many places, including California, this amount is not enough to rebuild a home. He pledged that FEMA will work with its partners, including the Small Business Administration, which can provide low-interest loans to families, along with nonprofit and philanthropic partners to help affected families rebuild.
The FEMA Administrator also stated that “it's not necessarily where you rebuild, it's how it happens.” Creswell said the agency wants to encourage families to rebuild their homes to be more fire resistant, noting that “that's really where we need to focus our efforts as we move into the rebuilding phase.” Are.”
“We want to be able to work with the governor's team to rebuild in a way that makes communities more resilient, that keeps insurance companies there,” Criswell said. “We need to be able to work together with the insurance industry to help find ways to preserve this valuable resource for so many families.”
As part of building more resilient communities, Creswell also encouraged burying power lines underground, which would reduce the chance of wildfires and also allow officials to keep power on during severe weather events. Is.
Criswell did not provide any comprehensive figures for the total cost of damage in Los Angeles, noting that the fires are still burning and damage is still occurring. But he urged that there are other programs through which Congress can work to cover some of the losses, adding that there are “a wide variety of different tools and resources available to lawmakers” to really put this community on the path to recovery. Can authorize” to help.