Weekly Camp Fire Recovery Update from Butte County

October 21, 2019
Information
Wildfire Assistance Program Issues Payments and Continues to Accept Claims

The Wildfire Assistance Program started accepting claims for Basic Unmet Needs payments on August 15, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, the Program has reviewed over 4,000 claims and issued payments totaling more than $8 million to households affected by the 2017 and 2018 Wildfires. 

The independently administered Program is distributing payments from a fund of $105 million provided by PG&E. The funds are intended to help those who are in need of assistance with alternative living expenses or unmet needs. Claimants can request a Basic Unmet Needs payment of $5,000 per household for owners, or $2,500 per adult household member for renters. Claimants receiving Basic Unmet Needs payments may also qualify for a Supplemental Unmet Needs payment, if funds are available after all Basic Unmet Needs payments have been issued.

To qualify for the payments, applicants’ primary residence must have been within the boundary of the 2017 Northern California wildfires or the 2018 Camp fire. Applicants also must establish proof of identity and certify that they are not requesting payments for an expense already paid for by FEMA.

The Administrator is still accepting claims for the Wildfire Assistance Program and encourages all affected households to apply for benefits. An official website with an online claim filing system can be found at www.norcalwildfireassistanceprogram.com. All claims must be submitted by November 15, 2019.
DEBRIS REMOVAL STATUS
Alternative Program (County)
data as of October 18, 2019

Alternative Work Plans Received: 1,694

Alternative Work Plan in Review: 37

Alternative Work Plans Approved: 1,657

Final Reports Submitted: 1,266

Final Reports in Review: 45

Final Reports Approved: 1,221

Applications Awaiting Work Plans: 21
Government Program (State)
data as of October 17, 2019

Parcels with ROE Eligible: 10,893

Parcels with Debris Removal
Completed: 10,879
 
Parcels with Soil Sample
Approved: 10,360

Parcels with Erosion Control
Completed: 9,221

Parcels Completed and
Final Sign Off Sent to County: 9,144

Parcels with Final Sign Off received by the county: 9,201

Parcels with Final Sign Off processed by the County (return to owner): 9,090

Noncompliant Parcels

Town of Paradise: 28
Butte County: 17
Mobile Home Parks

Government Program: 31
Alternative Program: 2

Debris Removal Operations Center
Property owners who have questions about Phase II debris removal with the Government Program can stop by or call the Debris Removal Operations Center and speak directly with representatives from CalOES and CalRecycle.

Debris Removal Operations Center
900 Fortress Street, Suite 200 in Chico
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, 8:00 am to Noon
530.399.0434
Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility Fire Debris Disposal
BUILDING PERMITS
Butte County Building Permits
Inside Burn Area*
Applications Received: 156
Permits Issued: 79
Final: 2 (home may be occupied)

Outside Burn Area*
Applications Received: 14
Permits Issued: 11
Final: 2 (home may be occupied)
*Inside Burn Area – residential permits on parcels where the Camp Fire destroyed a residence.

*Outside Burn Area – residential permit for a Camp Fire survivor on a parcel outside the burn area or a parcel within the burn area where no structures greater than 120 sq. ft. burned.
Butte County Rebuild Incentive Grant Information
The rebuild incentive grant can be applied for when property owners submit a building permit with Butte County. The grant is on a first-applied, first-granted basis.
North Valley Community Foundation
The grant is a reimbursement for 50% of eligible building permit fees up to $3,500.
52 Applicants being served
$96,241 being applied to building permits.

Golden State Finance Authority
The grant is a reimbursement of 100% of eligible building permit fees for Veterans.
17 Applicants being served
$50,231 being applied to building permits.
Town of Paradise Building Permits
Building Permit Applications Received: 404
Homes Rebuilt: 9
Data as of October 16, 2019

View weekly recovery updates from the Town of Paradise. Posted here .
Butte County Surveyor Status
Record of Survey
Submitted: 160
Recorded: 63
Record of Survey – a document prepared and signed by a Professional Land Surveyor that documents a boundary survey. Required when: a property corner is set; property lines are established that have not been mapped previously; or there is a material discrepancy between what has been recorded versus what exists on the ground.
Corner Record
Submitted: 100
Filed: 88
Corner Record – a document prepared and signed by a Professional Land Surveyor that documents a boundary survey. Required when: a property corner is set; property lines are re- established that have been mapped previously; and there is no material discrepancy between what has been recorded versus what exists on the ground.
BUTTE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY TREES
Hazard trees in the County right-of-way are assessed by a contract arborist and removed by a tree contractor if they pose a threat to the public right-of-way. The Department of Public Works manages the contract arborist and the tree removal contractors.

Trees Evaluated, Removal Planned: 6,649
Trees Removed: 274
Road Miles Evaluated: 155 out of 155
NON-CONGREGATE SHELTERS FOR
CAMP FIRE SURVIVORS
Lime Saddle Campground
Total Spaces: 44
Vacancy: 9
Available Through: October 31, 2019*
*this date is evaluated on a monthly basis.

DeSabla Campground
Total Spaces: 12
Vacancy: 5
Available Through: October 31, 2019*
*this date is evaluated on a monthly basis.
The Department of Employment and Social Services operates the shelter locations. These shelters opened to provide a place for fire survivors who are unable to live on their property until fire debris removal is complete. Fire survivors should call 530.538.7572 to inquire about a space.
WATER UPDATES
Del Oro Water Update (as of 10/21/19)
Locations Tested: 303
Locations Cleared: 302
Paradise Irrigation District Update (as of 10/21/19)
Total Advisories Lifted: 646
588 Advisories Lifted based on water test results
78 Advisories Lifted based on service lateral replacement
COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
The following community meetings and events related to recovery. The list is not intended to be a comprehensive list of community events.
Visit ButteCountyRecovers.org/events or Makeitparadise.org/meeting-schedul e for a list of events hosted by, or held in coordination with, Butte County or the Town of Paradise. For Paradise Community Events, visit http://www.paradisechamber.com/events/calendar

Camp Fire Construction Connection
Calling all Contractors: The Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Valley Contractors' Exchange and Butte College, invites you to a networking session and forum to connect trades and GCs.
 This will be an environment where industry can connect, scale up, share resources and build new models in order to get 10,000 houses built in 5 years.
 It takes 22 trades to build a house and with the shortage of workforce and the amount of houses to build, both local and out of town companies will be needed to Rebuild the Ridge!
 Our construction industry companies and workers are our most valuable resources right now.
Monday, October 28, 2019
3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce
6161 Clark Road, Paradise

Paradise Community Information Meeting
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Paradise Alliance Church
6491 Clark Road in Paradise

Camp Fire Commemoration Events- Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce
Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure that all community observations relating to the Camp Fire are publicized. If your organization is planning an event, please submit it to Paradisechamber.com's community calendar , and we will ensure that a program of events is produced for the media and public. Simple instructions here .

It has been nearly one year since the Camp Fire, and many events are being planned for the week of November 8, 2019. The Town of Paradise will hold several events on Friday, November 8, including the following:
  • 11:08 a.m. 85 seconds of silence for the 85 lives lost, and the unveiling of the "Key Phoenix" at the Building Resiliency Center, 6295 Skyway, in Paradise.
  • 12:00 p.m. Groundbreaking Ceremony at Camp Fire Memorial- Skyway/Foster Triangle.
  • 6:30 p.m.: Camp Fire Remembrance Ceremony, Paradise Alliance Church, 6491 Clark Road, in Paradise.

This event will include a free medical clinic from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with nurses and doctors provided by Medspire Health. Children's activities, music, games and food vendors will also be included.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
13835 West Park Drive, Magalia

Adventist Health Feather River Camp Fire Remembrance Event
Friday, November 9, 2019
11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Hospital Campus

United Policyholders Roadmap to Recovery Workshop
Healing and Dealing at the 1-year Anniversary
December 3, 2019
6:00 p.m.
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
2341 Floral Avenue, Chico