News Flash

State of California 

Federal Disaster Declaration Facts - January 17, 2023

On January 14, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden Jr., granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California triggering the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides that occurred December 27, 2022, and continuing. This disaster declaration has been amended as indicated below in bold. Details of the disaster declaration and assistance programs are as follows: 

Declaration Number: FEMA-4683-DR

Incident: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides                                          

Incident Period: December 27, 2022, and continuing

Federal Coordinating Officer: Andrew F. Grant, National FCO Program

Individual Assistance (IA): (Assistance to individuals and households):

IA-Designated Counties: Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Public Assistance (PA): (Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities):

Hazard Mitigation (HM): (Assistance for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards):

HM-Designated Areas: All areas in the State of California are eligible for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

OTHER: Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Individuals in Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz Counties can apply with FEMA the following ways:

• Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 
• Constituents may call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).

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• City staff are continually assessing the needs of the City and are actively performing recovery measures from the storm. Individuals affected by flooding in Arroyo Grande can contact the City's Liaison, Erica Casares at (805) 473-5453 or ecasares@arroyogrande.org.

• The public can call the County Phone Assistance Center at 805-781-5678 if they have questions about evacuations, recovery, or other storm related issues.

• For issues with roadways or downed trees in unincorporated areas, call County Public Works at 805-781-5252 for assistance. 
• For more storm information and resources, visit ReadySLO.org and EmergencySLO.org.
• Reporting of damage, road blockages, flooding, etc. in City limits can be reported to Public Works at (805) 473-5480. After hours, residents can call SLO County Dispatch at (805) 473-5100.

• There are still sandbags and sand available at the City's Corporation Yard for AG residents, located at 1375 Ash Street. Please bring a shovel in case the shovel there is gone.

• The County Office of Emergency Services is collecting damage information from private property owners to provide to FEMA. There is a countywide threshold to meet before we are potentially eligible for financial recovery assistance. We need damage reports to identify if we meet this threshold! There is no guarantee that individual financial assistance will become available to homeowners. Should assistance become available, you will be notified.

• Fill the form out here: https://forms.recoverslo.org/Private-Property-Damage-Reports.