Prior to and immediately following a major emergency or disaster, the county provides the first line of response and assistance to victims in any affected unincorporated area of the county, and the second line of defense for victims within the five incorporated cities.  This includes the documenting and compiling of damages sustained so that recovery priorities can be established and needs determined.

• If the extent of damage clearly exceeds the county's capabilities and/or resources, the Director of Emergency Services and the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors will request state assistance from the Governor by issuing a Local Proclamation of Emergency.
• If the extend of damage warrants a Governor's Proclamation of a State of Emergency, some or all of the state's public and individual assistance programs will be activated under the authorities of the "California Emergency Services Act" and the California Disaster Assistance Act".
• If the level of damage does not warrant a Gubernatorial Proclamation, some state assistance may be available.
• If the application of state assistance is determined by the Governor to be inadequate to meet county needs, the Governor will request federal assistance from the President.  Upon a President's Declaration of a major Disaster or Emergency, federal disaster relief is made available under the provisions of the "Emergency Assistance Act" (PL 93-288) and the "Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act and Emergency Assistance Act" (PL 100-707).

Unfortunately, in a time of disaster, unscrupulous crooks will try to take advantage of people who desperately need to fix their homes.  This is especially true of a large scale disaster that overwhelms the local resources.  Contractors will come from near and far.  Don't let yourself or your neighbors get nailed by unscrupulous or unlicensed contractors. 

• What You Should Know Before You Hire A Contractor

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