CalOES: Debris Removal & Wildfire Recovery

This is a special message from Mark Ghilarducci, the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Why should I sign the Right of Entry Form?
Signing the Right of Entry Form will allow the Army Corps of Engineers/CalRecycle crews to remove the fire debris from your property. The quicker we can remove the fire debris from your property and the other
properties in your community, the quicker you can rebuild and your community can recover.

The Army Corps of Engineers and CalRecycle are part of the Consolidated Debris Removal Program put together by the Governors’ Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Both the Corp and CalRecycle will deploy numerous teams to quickly remove fire debris. It is important to quickly clean up the fire debris to protect the public health, animals, and the environment. Also, once the debris is removed from the properties, communities can start the rebuilding process.

Ideally, we would like to have 100 percent participation in this program. The program is voluntary, but if you do not sign the Right of Entry Form, you will still be required to promptly remove the debris on your property in accordance with city/county standards. Also, if you fail to promptly clean your property, the city/county may take legal action to clean the property on your behalf in order to protect the public health, animals, and the environment.

The Consolidated Debris Removal Program is free. If you have insurance that has a set amount for debris removal, your insurance company will be required to give this specified amount to your county. However, if
you’re uninsured or your policy does not have a specified amount for debris removal you will not be obligated to pay any money or give up your insurance proceeds. If your insurance has coverage for debris removal but it is part of the money you will receive to rebuild, your insurance company will not have to pay anything from your policy to the county unless you have insurance proceeds remaining after you rebuild.

Signing the Right of Entry Form is an important first step on the road to recovery. The quicker we can remove the debris, the quicker you and your community can fully recover.

For more information on debris removal and recovery programs, visit: http://wildfirerecovery.org/