Boxer, Feinstein Call for Disaster Assistance for Placer County

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) today sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills urging her to issue a disaster declaration for Placer County so that residents and business owners can receive much-needed disaster loans to rebuild after the devastating 49er fire. The fire burned over 340 acres and damaged or destroyed dozens of properties in the community of Auburn.

The text of the letter follows:

September 9, 2009

The Honorable Karen Mills
Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
409 3rd Street, S.W. Suite 7000
Washington, DC 20024-3212

Dear Administrator Mills:

We write in support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s request for a Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration for Placer County. As you know, the recent 49er fire destroyed numerous homes and commercial properties in the community of Auburn and burned over 340 acres.

Damage surveys conducted by the California Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on September 2, 2009, determined that 68 homes and six businesses have uninsured losses of at least 40 percent of their value, thus meeting the SBA minimum criteria for a disaster declaration.

Due to the devastation caused as a result of these fires, we join Governor Schwarzenegger in requesting that you declare Placer County a disaster area. Assistance in the form of disaster loans will be immensely helpful to the residents and their businesses in this time of great need.

We appreciate the support that the SBA has provided to California in times such as these and thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator United States Senator

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