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Fallbrook fire victims get help at assistance center

Members of the Army National Guard directed traffic Saturday morning as hundreds of fire victims crowded into the San Diego County Local Assistance Center at the Fallbrook Community Center seeking help and guidance. Representatives of more than three dozen public and private agencies present from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. included the DMV, Veteran’s Affairs, Franchise Tax Board, Social Security and Internal Revenue Service.

To start the process, individuals needed only to register with one of four county employees at a table in front of the main entrance. Once a person has registered, the information is stored in a computer and can be accessed anyplace they apply for aid.

Once registered, a printed reference list that includes the names of the organizations present and a chart which shows their locations at the site were handed to registrants. Volunteers helped determine the agency specifically required to fit a person’s needs and directed people to the appropriate booth.

On the front lawn, Farmers, State Farm and Travelers insurance companies, the Balboa Insurance Group and the Stromsoe Insurance Agency, along with North Coast Church and North County CERT, manned booths.

On the back lawn in tents, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross had employees ready to help. In another area members of Mental Health Services and the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) were available.

Three large bulletin boards adjacent to the entrance, covered with notices of homes to rent, temporary housing, food and assistance locations and a variety of aid agencies, as well as a large map of the area, gave additional information.

“This was all set up in a day and a half, as soon as the fires came into play,” said county spokesperson Dahvia Lynch. “Whenever we see something that needs to happen we do it immediately. We learned from 2003.”

Gene Romano, a public information officer and 13-year employee of FEMA, said 150 of the 450 FEMA employees sent to California were allocated to the five centers set up to handle victims of San Diego fires. He commended the county for having all these agencies in the same location, saying there may be something a person had not considered and would find available here.

To illustrate, Romano said a person who lost a home-based business can get help from the Small Business Association on-site while pursuing other aspects of home and property losses.

The Fallbrook Local Assistance Center is open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located in the Fallbrook Community Center at 341 Heald Lane, off Fallbrook Street.

The center will be operating for an indefinite period of time, but applicants are urged to apply early for assistance.

 

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