In an effort to gather more information from Los Angeles County residents and business owners about the damage caused by last week’s storm, Santa Clarita is encouraging citizens who suffered property damages to complete the L.A. County Damage Assessment Survey.
The survey aims to assess if enough damage was caused for the county to seek a Federal declaration through the U.S. Small Business Administration. For the agency to consider providing assistance, damage must be so severe that it impacts the insides of buildings and affects their livability.
In the survey participants are asked about the type of property damage, the estimated cost, the effect on their income and any concerns they may have.
According to Donna Nuzzi, Santa Clarita Emergency Services Supervisor, there have not yet been any reports of structural damages in Santa Clarita. Nuzzi said the county is looking to glean as much information as possible and said those who suffered damages of any kind should complete the survey regardless of the severity of damages.
“(The storm was) horrendous, but the damages must affect the occupancy (of a building) to get federal assistance,” Nuzzi said.
L.A. County Department of Public Works Public Information Officer Steven Frasher said the majority of reports made in the Santa Clarita area were in regard to fallen trees and mudslides. According to Frasher, the number of fallen trees in the fifth district was lower than in other districts.
Precautions taken in preparation of the storm worked according to planned, as most of the tension of the storm was caught by dams, he said.
“The L.A. County infrastructure operated exactly as designed,” Frasher said. “We’re very happy with that.”
Frasher said the county was also pleased with the partnerships of the cities.
“There was great cooperation with sheriff and fire and our municipal partners in Santa Clarita and the foothills,” he said.
To fill out the Damage Assessment Survey, visit 211la.org/damage-assessment-survey/.
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