Local Assistance Center To Serve Malibu Area Fire Victims

FEMA Release Date: November 26, 2007
Release Number: 1731-049

PASADENA, Calif. -- The state of California, along with county and city officials, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Local Assistance Center (LAC) near the Malibu area scorched by the fire that began on Saturday.

The LAC will be located at the Malibu Bluffs Park, 24250 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

The center will open on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 9 a.m. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. The center will operate through Friday, December 7.

"The Malibu center will serve anyone affected by the fire who may need recovery information," said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Hall of FEMA. "We want to be sure that we’ve reached fire-affected residents in the Malibu area who may have questions on available disaster recovery assistance or FEMA registration."

Fire victims are encouraged to register with FEMA before they visit the LAC by calling the FEMA toll-free number: 1‑800‑621‑FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Online registering is also available at www.fema.gov. The deadline to apply is Jan. 9, 2008.

At the Malibu LAC, those affected by the fire can get information on:

~FEMA rental assistance and emergency home repairs;

~U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes;

~Additional state grants to help with rental assistance, emergency home repairs, and other needs;

~National Flood Insurance to guard against losses from mudslides where vegetation has burned;

~Disaster unemployment assistance;

~Crisis counseling information; and

~Advice on insurance matters.

FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.