Representatives from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and CalRecycle will discuss the state’s Consolidated Debris Removal Program and how the participation of private property owners whose homes were destroyed or damaged by the Woolsey and Hill fires can help them jump start rebuilding during a meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 12, at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.
A representative from the California Department of Insurance also will discuss how the Consolidated Debris Removal Program coordinates with the insurance coverage consumers have under their own insurance policy.
Participation in the state-run program is easy.
Interested property owners in Los Angeles County simply need to complete and submit a Right of Entry (ROE) form providing consent for contractors hired by the state to enter their property and remove eligible debris to one of the locations below locations:
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Debris Removal Operations Center (DROC) 26610 Agoura Rd., Calabasas
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Disaster Recovery Center Conrad F. Hilton Foundation Building 30440 Agoura Rd., Agoura Hills
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Disaster Recovery Center Malibu City Hall 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd., Malibu
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Los Angeles County residents also can submit their ROEs via email at woolseyfire@dpw.lacounty.gov.
Property owners in Ventura County whose homes were destroyed or damaged can submit their ROEs to the Ventura County Environmental Health Division at the county’s Government Center, located at 800 S. Victoria Avenue in Ventura. Additional information can be found at venturacountyrecovers.org.
Participation in the state-run program is optional for eligible property owners, but is recommended since participants, including those with no insurance, suffer no out-of-pocket costs, and the process is more-streamlined. Debris removal crews will work with the property owner to recover valuables and keepsakes as well as identify and preserve pet cemeteries, retaining walls, septic systems and other special features. The state-run program also emphasizes the safety of the residences, sensitive facilities and watersheds, as well as limiting the impact of traffic in the affected areas.
Property owners also can choose to opt out of the state-run program, but work done by themselves or by private contractors will require submission by the property owner of an application and work plan to the appropriate local authority, as well as adhere to the same strict standards as the ones used in the state-run program.
ROEs must be submitted by interested property owners in Ventura County by January 14, 2019, and by property owners in Los Angeles County by January 28, 2019.
Under the state-run program, property owners will be contacted at least 24 to 48 hours before the debris removal crews access their property. The DROC will make at least two attempts to contact property owners by either phone, text message or email of the work start date. If the DROC is unable to contact the property owners, crews will still conduct debris removal operations on the property and will make every effort to follow the instructions on the ROE for that property as they understand them.
Work is scheduled to begin in areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties on January 14 with site assessments, asbestos assessments, the tipping of chimneys and removal of asbestos containing materials. Debris removal is scheduled to begin on January 28. During their work, crews will be wearing protective clothing and equipment, including Tyvek suits and respirators.
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