DATE:
October 21, 2025
20
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
STRENGTHENING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY THROUGH PROACTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE DOCUMENTATION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The recent fires in Los Angeles highlight the devastating and widespread impacts of natural disasters in California, which carry significant human, economic, and infrastructure costs. For local governments, disasters often result in billions of dollars in damages, placing immense pressure on local budgets and requiring substantial federal assistance to recover. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) plays a critical role in reimbursing these costs but imposes stringent documentation requirements to validate disaster-related claims.
The County Board of Supervisors has previously taken significant steps to enhance FEMA reimbursements and improve disaster resilience. Most recently, these include updates to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance in September 2024 to align with FEMA requirements, emergency funding allocations for flood recovery in January 2024, and additional support for flood relief efforts in March 2024. These actions reflect the Board's ongoing commitment to strengthening disaster recovery processes and maximizing federal assistance.
Under FEMA's recent update to the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG) Version 5.0 applicants may be required to provide pre-incident photographs or video to establish the condition of assets before a disaster. This requirement formalizes the need for high-quality, proactive documentation to expedite reimbursement processes and ensure eligibility for funding. Without this preparation, delays, and outright denials of FEMA reimbursements can create significant fiscal challenges for county governments.
This initiative will position the County to meet new FEMA reimbursement eligibility requirements by implementing unique technology in infrastructure documentation. The documentation will also meet e...
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