LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District will remove debris in Santa Barbara County to support Federal Emergency Management Agency response operations following the California Wildfires. The Corps received a verbal mission assignment from FEMA Jan. 10.
"The health and safety of our fellow community members in Santa Barbara County are top priorities for the Los Angeles District," said Col. Kirk Gibbs, Los Angeles District commander. "We will do everything in our power to aid in the recovery effort."
The Corps undertakes the debris management mission, as assigned by FEMA, that may include emergency debris clearance and removal from roads, bridges, waterways, debris basins and rights-of-way for emergency vehicles and public access.
FEMA announced Jan. 10 it amended the federal disaster assistance declaration made Dec. 4, 2017, for recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires to now include damage from flooding, mudflows and debris flows directly related to the wildfires.
Release no. 18-001