Boxer, Feinstein Call for Disaster Assistance for Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County so residents and business owners can receive much-needed disaster loans to rebuild after the devastating Station Fire. As the largest fire in Los Angeles County history, the Station Fire has already burned more than 160,000 acres and damaged or destroyed 66 homes and five businesses in the Los Angeles area.

The text of the letter follows:

September 11, 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 Los Angeles County. As you know, the recent Station Fire has burned over 160,000 acres and destroyed dozens of homes and commercial properties in the Los Angeles area.

Damage surveys conducted by the California Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on September 10, 2009, determined that 66 homes and five businesses have uninsured losses of at least 40 percent of their value, thus meeting the SBA minimum criteria for a disaster declaration.

The Station Fire is the largest fire in Los Angeles County history, as well as one of the largest in the state’s history. Due to the devastation caused as a result of these fires, we join Governor Schwarzenegger in requesting that you declare Los Angeles 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
United States Senator

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

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