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Cal OES outlines Los Angeles wildfire recovery, seeks reappropriation for law enforcement mutual aid
Summary
Cal OES updated the subcommittee on recovery after recent Los Angeles wildfires, described federal and state assistance and debris‑removal phases, and requested reappropriation to continue a pilot law‑enforcement mutual‑aid reimbursement program.
Cal OES gave a broad overview of its role in coordinating state response and recovery for the recent Los Angeles wildfires and described a request to reappropriate money for a law‑enforcement mutual‑aid reimbursement program.
Deputy Director Eric Swanson said the president declared a major disaster for Los Angeles on January 8, 2025, triggering federal individual and public assistance programs and enabling a joint field office where state and federal recovery staff coordinate. He said FEMA and the Small Business Administration have registered tens of thousands of survivors and approved substantial assistance to households and businesses; Cal OES reported over 32,000 households had received help at disaster recovery centers and FEMA registrations numbered roughly 33,000 with $77.9 million in FEMA assistance to date.
Debris removal and recovery phases: Cal OES described a Phase 1 household hazardous and related removal completed by EPA and a Phase 2 Army Corps‑led removal that requires right‑of‑entry forms; the agency reported receiving about 9,000 right‑of‑entry forms so far. Cal OES said long‑term recovery will involve National Disaster Recovery Framework teams addressing housing, economic recovery, health and social services, infrastructure, and other needs.
Mutual‑aid reimbursement pilot: Cal OES requested reappropriation of about $22,000,000 General Fund with extended encumbrance to 06/30/2029 to continue the Law Enforcement Mutual Aid (Lima) reimbursement pilot. The pilot allows local law enforcement agencies to receive reimbursement for mutual‑aid costs (traffic control, evacuations, anti‑looting measures) and the administration said these costs are typically submitted for FEMA reimbursement where eligible. LAO recommended the legislature specify outcomes and reporting requirements should it reauthorize the pilot because rollout delays meant limited program data are currently available to evaluate effectiveness.
Ending: Committee members thanked Cal OES and sought more data on Lima outcomes and on services available to households that do not qualify for federal assistance; Cal OES agreed to follow up with additional reporting and details.
