As the two-month mark of the Eaton and Palisades fires approaches, Los Angeles County leaders focused on financial relief, residents’ concerns about the debris removal process and preparations for another round of rain in the region at it weekly wildfire recovery news conference on Wednesday, March 5.
After residents expressed concerns about tree removals taking place during the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Phase 2 debris removal, particularly in Altadena, a tree removal waiver is now available.
Col. Eric Swenson, who is leading the Corps of Engineers cleanup, mentioned that the tree removal waiver is now available and announced that Corps team members will have the waiver available when they call homeowners, which occurs three to five days before they come to the property and one day before and when they come to do a 360 assessment on the day they arrive at a property.
The waiver is also available on the L.A. County Recovers website.
“Residents deserve a sense of ownership over the entire debris removal process,” Fifth District L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “I want Altadena residents to know that when the debris is removed from your property, you will be able to have full control over what trees are taken out and which you want to stay.”
Though property owners can waive tree removals, Swenson noted that keeping certain trees could impact the ability of residents to get building permits and that property owners assume liability for retained trees.
Any tree within the ash footprint that threatens lives, public safety and health or property is considered a hazardous tree.
The Corps conducted a review of their process after recent feedback and implemented a new color marking for trees.
A yellow dot at the base of the tree and a yellow ribbon will indicate that a tree has been waived from the removal process.
Swenson also asked residents to not use spray paint to attempt to re-mark trees, noting that spray paint can be toxic to trees and that the Corps uses a special tree paint when marking trees.
“Property owners, because they have this opportunity to waive a tree and keep it, they don’t need to take their own actions with regards to painting trees,” Swenson said.
Housing protections
Supervisor Barger will host a virtual community meeting for Altadena residents on Monday, March 10 at 5 p.m., focusing on rental units and structures that survived the fire.
Barger met with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, to discuss recovery support on the federal level. She plans to tour the burn area with Turner.
Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath discussed an eviction protection motion that was passed countywide for workers whose place of work was in the fire footprint, and announced that on Tuesday, March 4, the Board of Supervisors passed an extension of price gouging protections, some of which would have expired on Sunday, March 9 without the extension.
There are household relief funds, small business relief funds and workers’ relief funds available, which L.A. County has invested $53.9 million in, alongside philanthropic partners.
As another round of rain makes its way to Los Angeles this week, Horvath urged residents, particularly those near the Santa Monica Mountains, where debris flows and road closures are a risk, to stay vigilant and be prepared to evacuate if needed.
Angela George-Moody, the chief deputy director of L.A. County Department of Public Works, also spoke about the rainfall, specifically noting that there is the potential for isolated mudflows.
George-Moody said Public Works has looked at protective measures and made adjustments as necessary, keeping all protections from prior rains in place. All flood control systems in the county are prepared for the rain.
Debris removal
Right-of-entry forms for debris removal are still needed from many residents. George-Moody said Public Works has dedicated additional resources to reviewing forms and reminded residents that they can track the status of their submissions and request additional information.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has fully completed Phase 2 debris removal at 109 properties, following which they return the right-of-entry to the county, according to Swenson. Another roughly 322 properties have had primary debris removal done.
Also, 1,197 properties of the original 4,499 properties deferred to the Corps to Phase 2 by the Environmental Protection Agency have undergone a second round of household hazardous material clearing. The Corps is hoping to get up to 50% of those deferred properties cleared of household hazardous material in the next day or two, Swenson said.
Swenson outlined the process residents can expect when their home is cleared of debris, if they opt-in to the Corps clearing their property.
Three to five days before the Corps comes to the property, homeowners will receive a call and can discuss free waivers, a second call is placed one day before and the day the Corps arrives at the property, a “360 site assessment” will be done.
“All of those are opportunities that homeowners, survivors, can have to interact with our crews and to share some intimate details about their property that we wouldn’t otherwise know,” Swenson said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided $83 million to survivors so far. Brandi Richard Thompson, FEMA public information officer, noted that oftentimes those who received a letter stating that they are ineligible may need to provide FEMA with more information and that this determination can be appealed.