Letter to Michael D. Brown

The Honorable Michael D. Brown
Under Secretary
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472

Dear Under Secretary Brown:

Thank you for responding to my many calls for information regarding the disastrous fires that have struck my state.

I urge you, in addition to the 1-800 number providing information to those affected by these fires, to set up at least one Disaster Assistance Center in each of the counties involved - San Diego, San Bernardino, Ventura, Los Angeles, and, if it is subsequently declared a disaster area, Riverside.

In the past, these Centers have been very successful in acting as a one-stop shop to help the people of California affected by a disaster. In one single location you would have representatives of federal, state, and local governmental entities to help people deal with all of their needs at once. For example, you could have representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, and other federal agencies as well as the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, local utilities, county health departments, and private entities such as insurance companies and banks.

For many of those who have lost their homes, Disaster Assistance Centers are far more effective than asking them to make a phone call to people in other parts of the country. The in-person and one-stop nature of these Centers is crucial - and comforting - during a time of crisis.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator