FEMA to provide mobile homes for local tribes

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer | Sunday, November 25, 2007 8:31 PM PST ∞

The first of about a dozen mobile homes requested by American Indian tribal members could reach North County reservations this week, officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday.

North County's reservations were among the most affected areas in San Diego County during last month's wildfires. The Poomacha fire, which started on the La Jolla Indian Reservation near Palomar Mountain, burned about 90 percent of that tribal community, including 59 structures.

It also burned about 3,600 acres and more than 65 structures at the Rincon Indian Reservation near Valley Center.

"My main focus right now is to assure that everyone that had their home destroyed in the fire has a temporary housing solution," said Mike Parker, who heads a group of about 30 FEMA personnel assisting Southern California tribal areas that were affected by the wildfires.

Parker said 13 families from the Rincon and La Jolla reservations have requested the mobile homes. If weather permits, the first home will be delivered from March Air Reserve Base to Rincon next week, Parker said.

The homes are fully-furnished, three-bedroom units, with a kitchen and living room, he said.

Gene Romano, a spokesman for the agency, said more than 17,000 people have applied for emergency assistance throughout the seven counties affected by the wildfires, including more than 12,000 applications from San Diego County.

It has also disbursed about $8.8 million in grants, including more than $6 million for temporary housing assistance. Romano said the figures broken down for tribal members were not available.

Moreover, Romano said assistance is available for everyone who was affected by the fires.

"We are asking people not to prejudge themselves," Romano said. "Even if you had insurance, go ahead and apply."

After the wildfires, tribal leaders said they felt isolated in their remote reservations when the fires broke out and they lost phone and electricity. However, they praised federal officials, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for their quick response.

The bureau has a program to provide emergency cash assistance for American Indian families that provides up to $1,000 for tribal members who were evacuated from their homes. More than 800 people from 11 tribes throughout Southern California have received assistance from the program, officials said.

"Most of those evacuated did not have an opportunity to take essential items with them," said Jim Fletcher, Southern California superintendent for the bureau. The emergency grants "helped provide for a variety of interim needs until those evacuated could return home."

To apply for federal and state disaster assistance, call (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585 or visit www.fema.gov.

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.