**PRESS RELEASE**

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OPENING OF LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR
LOS ANGELES COUNTY "SAYRE" (SYLMAR) FIRE VICTIMS

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY - The Los Angeles County Operational Area in coordination with the City of Los Angeles and the State Office of Emergency

Services will open a Local Assistance Center for fire victims of the"Sayre (Sylmar) Fire."

The Local Assistance Center will serve as a one-stop resource for disaster relief services, including information on how to replace records lost in the fire, file insurance claims and apply for assistance and housing. It will provide a single place for victims of the wildfire to get help in starting their recovery process.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a State of Emergency declaration for Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Barbara Counties for the November 2008, wildfires. This declaration will assist fire victims with resources such as grants, temporary housing, disaster unemployment assistance, and low interest loans for businesses. A Presidential Disaster Declaration has also been issued which will provide additional assistance to fire victims.

The Local Assistance Center will open on Thursday, November 20. The hours of operation for the center are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hours and days are subject to change. The Local Assistance Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 28.

The location of the Local Assistance Center that will open on Thursday, November 20, is:

Sylmar Recreation Center
13109 Borden Ave.
Sylmar, CA 91342

Various Federal, State, County, City and other local agencies will be represented at the Local Assistance Center. The agencies expected to participate include:

FEDERAL
FEMA
SBA
Internal Revenue Service

STATE
Office of Emergency Services
Department of Insurance
State Contractor's License Board
State Franchise Tax Board
Board of Equalization
Employment Development Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
Department of Public Health Vital records
California Veteran's Affairs

COUNTY
Department of Public Social Services (DPSS)
Department of Public Works - Building Safety
Mental Health
Community Senior Services
County Assessor's Office
County Consumer Affairs
Environmental Health
Housing Development and Community
Housing Authority Sec. 8 (CDC)

LOS ANGELES CITY
City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department
Los Angeles City Animal Services
Los Angeles City Department on Disability
Los Angeles City Building and Safety
Los Angeles City Housing

NON-PROFITS
TZU Chi Foundation
211 LA County

# # #

Anne Maria Tafoya
ESP Chair, School Liaison, PIO

Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management
1275 N. Eastern Ave.
Los Angeles , CA 90063

323-980-2093 Office
213-792-5127 Cell phonne
atafoya@ceooem.lacounty.gov