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Sierra Madre staff preparing FEMA/Cal OES submissions as Eaton Fire recovery continues
Summary
City staff briefed the council on progress documenting damage and costs from the Eaton Fire and the February storm, coordination with FEMA and Cal OES, insurance claims with PRISM, and an after‑action study to guide future emergency planning.
City staff presented a status update Tuesday on recovery from the mid‑February Eaton Fire and the related winter storm debris flows and mudslides. Assistant City Manager Miguel Hernandez said the city has been coordinating with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is preparing for an April 16 recovery scoping (RSA) meeting to align documentation for public assistance reimbursements.
Key details from staff: FEMA representatives from the National Flood Insurance Program met with public works to review post‑fire flood risks; Cal OES and FEMA held a preliminary coordination meeting March 17; and staff have designated Eric Lozick to lead the city’s damage documentation and 214 cost logs. Hernandez said the city has circulated a preliminary financial summary of response costs (personnel and non‑personnel expenditures) and is reconciling department ledgers before the RSA meeting.
Costs and insurance: The city recorded roughly $530,000 in personnel and non‑personnel expenditures attributable to the events; staff plan to submit claims to the city’s insurance pool PRISM and prepare denials/appeals where coverage does not apply. Hernandez said the city will consolidate the damage inventory, finalize insurance claims, and submit complete documentation to FEMA within 60 days after the RSA meeting.
Public assistance and community outreach: The city contracted KJ Consultants to lead an after‑action process that will include online and in‑person engagement, community workshops and a staff portal; an after‑action report is expected by June 30. Staff will mail postcards to residents about upcoming outreach and will hold four breakout sessions on alert/warning systems, evacuations, sheltering and recovery.
Small Business Administration resources: During public comment, a representative from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) described low‑interest physical‑damage and economic‑injury disaster loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses affected by the fire. The SBA representative said homeowner loans can reach $500,000 for rebuilding and renters up to $100,000 for personal property, with mitigation loans of up to 20% of the loan value to pay for resiliency work; business physical‑damage loans can be as large as $2 million.
Why it matters: Accurate, timely documentation is required for FEMA public assistance and for insurance reimbursements. Staff emphasized coordination across departments, careful financial reconciliation, and timely follow‑up tasks to preserve eligibility and maximize reimbursement. The after‑action process will feed policy and operational changes for future incidents.
Ending: The council heard the briefing and asked clarifying questions about declarations, FEMA eligibility and record‑keeping; staff will pursue the RSA meeting next week and return progress reports as recoveries and claims move forward.
