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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Thursday a jury acquitted a Clearlake man who was charged with animal cruelty in the September death of his dog.
James Harley Thomas Miranda, 40, was found not guilty on all counts – animal cruelty by torture and being under the influence of methamphetamine.
Miranda was very relieved by the verdict, said his attorney, Andrea Sullivan.
While Miranda was found not guilty by the jury, Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson said he admitted to having smoked methamphetamine in the hours after his dog died, which constituted a violation of his probation. However, he will not need to spend more time in jail.
Miranda was the focus of a social media firestorm in September after a picture of his dead dog Cocoa – tied to a hand truck and left along the side of Highway 53 – began to circulate on Facebook and went viral.
A man who drove by and saw Cocoa – on the side of Highway 53 between Olympic Drive and the area of Lakeshore and 40th – reported the dog’s death, took its picture and posted the picture online.
Miranda, who testified both at his November preliminary hearing and in his trial, said both he and his dog had been hit by a vehicle and he was trying to get her somewhere to find help. She was in pain and biting at him and so he said he also muzzled her.
He said he had drug Cocoa – tied to the dolly – for about a mile and a half. By the time he left her to go to ask for help from his parents and their neighbors, she had died.
He said when he returned, he saw a Clearlake Animal Control officer – Melinda Wymer, who had responded to the call of the dead dog – driving away in her truck after having picked up Cocoa’s body.
Clearlake Police Officer Mark Harden arrested Miranda the following morning after recognizing Cocoa – a chocolate Labrador Retriever and red-nosed pit bull mix – from the picture, because he and Miranda had fought weeks before during an illegal camping call. He said during that confrontation Cocoa had attacked his police K9.
Miranda’s four-day trial, presided over by retired Judge David Herrick, started last week, with the bulk of the evidence presented last Thursday. Closing arguments took place this Thursday, with jury beginning deliberations late in the morning.
The jury deliberated for about an hour and a half – including rewatching two videos, one a Clearlake Police officer’s body cam, before he was read his rights, and the second when Miranda was in a holding cell, after his rights had been read to him, Sullivan said.
Neither Abelson nor Sullivan spoke with jurors about their decision to acquit Miranda.
However, both acknowledged that a key piece of evidence in the case was a necropsy, an examination of Cocoa’s body. That evidence was first presented at the preliminary hearing.
Miranda had told authorities that while he was walking along the highway early on the morning of Sept. 11 with Cocoa at his side, without a leash – he said he had trained her to stay right by his side – that both he and the dog had been hit by a car.
“At the beginning, nobody believed him,” said Sullivan, noting the dog had no outward injuries.
Abelson said that, initially, they didn't know how Cocoa had died. The Clearlake Police Department then got an expert to do the necropsy.
“It turns out that she was hit by a car,” said Abelson.
The necropsy found that Cocoa had internal injuries consistent with having been hit by a vehicle. Her hindquarters had fractures and her death was given as hemorrhage associated with blunt force trauma.
Both the defense and prosecution agreed to the findings in the necropsy, and stipulated to have it entered into evidence.
Sullivan said that at trial the claim that Miranda had simply left his dog to go use methamphetamine was “thoroughly debunked.”
Miranda, who had testified to being distraught by Cocoa’s death, admitted that about an hour after he saw his dog’s body being taken by animal control he smoked meth and also got very drunk, Sullivan said.
During the preliminary hearing some people who had come to watch the proceedings had to be warned repeatedly for outbursts in the court. Abelson and Sullivan said they were prepared for that this time, with the judge admonishing one outburst during the trial.
Overall, there weren’t any problems with outbursts during the trial like there had been at the preliminary hearing, Sullivan said.
At trial, a new piece of evidence the defense presented related to the availability of veterinary care for the injured Cocoa.
The prosecution argued that Miranda failed to get the dog to a vet to humanely euthanize her. In response, Sullivan presented a receptionist from Clearlake Veterinary Clinic on Emerson Street – the closest vet clinic to where Cocoa was injured – that the clinic wasn’t open until later in the morning and would have required payment up front.
Sullivan said even had Miranda been able to get his injured dog to the vet, the vet didn’t have an obligation to treat Cocoa.
“It comes down to whether or not he caused further suffering by what he did,” said Abelson. “It kind of cuts both ways.”
Abelson added, “He loved his dog, there’s no doubt about it.”
While Miranda was trying to get Cocoa help, “I think he caused further suffering because of his actions,” said Abelson, adding she didn’t believe he was doing it intentionally but still believed there was negligence.
Had he gotten the dog to the vet, “I think the dog would have died anyway,” Abelson said.
The other things that both prosecution and defense appeared to agree on are that Miranda had recently fallen on hard times, had been temporarily homeless and was transient.
His criminal history – including the fight with the officer ahead of Cocoa’s death – also was fairly recent, they said.
Both Abelson and Sullivan acknowledged that the social media reaction to the case had heightened the emotional response.
During jury selection, people acknowledged having heard about the case, and only two prospective jurors were dismissed after they said they had seen information about Miranda online and believed he was guilty.
One of the important factors in the case was to let the judge or a jury decide it, said Abelson, noting they worked hard to keep the influences of social media out of the courtroom.
“It wasn’t trial by Facebook,” she said.
Miranda had remained in jail since his arrest. By day’s end, Lake County Jail booking records indicated he had been released.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
James Harley Thomas Miranda, 40, was found not guilty on all counts – animal cruelty by torture and being under the influence of methamphetamine.
Miranda was very relieved by the verdict, said his attorney, Andrea Sullivan.
While Miranda was found not guilty by the jury, Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson said he admitted to having smoked methamphetamine in the hours after his dog died, which constituted a violation of his probation. However, he will not need to spend more time in jail.
Miranda was the focus of a social media firestorm in September after a picture of his dead dog Cocoa – tied to a hand truck and left along the side of Highway 53 – began to circulate on Facebook and went viral.
A man who drove by and saw Cocoa – on the side of Highway 53 between Olympic Drive and the area of Lakeshore and 40th – reported the dog’s death, took its picture and posted the picture online.
Miranda, who testified both at his November preliminary hearing and in his trial, said both he and his dog had been hit by a vehicle and he was trying to get her somewhere to find help. She was in pain and biting at him and so he said he also muzzled her.
He said he had drug Cocoa – tied to the dolly – for about a mile and a half. By the time he left her to go to ask for help from his parents and their neighbors, she had died.
He said when he returned, he saw a Clearlake Animal Control officer – Melinda Wymer, who had responded to the call of the dead dog – driving away in her truck after having picked up Cocoa’s body.
Clearlake Police Officer Mark Harden arrested Miranda the following morning after recognizing Cocoa – a chocolate Labrador Retriever and red-nosed pit bull mix – from the picture, because he and Miranda had fought weeks before during an illegal camping call. He said during that confrontation Cocoa had attacked his police K9.
Miranda’s four-day trial, presided over by retired Judge David Herrick, started last week, with the bulk of the evidence presented last Thursday. Closing arguments took place this Thursday, with jury beginning deliberations late in the morning.
The jury deliberated for about an hour and a half – including rewatching two videos, one a Clearlake Police officer’s body cam, before he was read his rights, and the second when Miranda was in a holding cell, after his rights had been read to him, Sullivan said.
Neither Abelson nor Sullivan spoke with jurors about their decision to acquit Miranda.
However, both acknowledged that a key piece of evidence in the case was a necropsy, an examination of Cocoa’s body. That evidence was first presented at the preliminary hearing.
Miranda had told authorities that while he was walking along the highway early on the morning of Sept. 11 with Cocoa at his side, without a leash – he said he had trained her to stay right by his side – that both he and the dog had been hit by a car.
“At the beginning, nobody believed him,” said Sullivan, noting the dog had no outward injuries.
Abelson said that, initially, they didn't know how Cocoa had died. The Clearlake Police Department then got an expert to do the necropsy.
“It turns out that she was hit by a car,” said Abelson.
The necropsy found that Cocoa had internal injuries consistent with having been hit by a vehicle. Her hindquarters had fractures and her death was given as hemorrhage associated with blunt force trauma.
Both the defense and prosecution agreed to the findings in the necropsy, and stipulated to have it entered into evidence.
Sullivan said that at trial the claim that Miranda had simply left his dog to go use methamphetamine was “thoroughly debunked.”
Miranda, who had testified to being distraught by Cocoa’s death, admitted that about an hour after he saw his dog’s body being taken by animal control he smoked meth and also got very drunk, Sullivan said.
During the preliminary hearing some people who had come to watch the proceedings had to be warned repeatedly for outbursts in the court. Abelson and Sullivan said they were prepared for that this time, with the judge admonishing one outburst during the trial.
Overall, there weren’t any problems with outbursts during the trial like there had been at the preliminary hearing, Sullivan said.
At trial, a new piece of evidence the defense presented related to the availability of veterinary care for the injured Cocoa.
The prosecution argued that Miranda failed to get the dog to a vet to humanely euthanize her. In response, Sullivan presented a receptionist from Clearlake Veterinary Clinic on Emerson Street – the closest vet clinic to where Cocoa was injured – that the clinic wasn’t open until later in the morning and would have required payment up front.
Sullivan said even had Miranda been able to get his injured dog to the vet, the vet didn’t have an obligation to treat Cocoa.
“It comes down to whether or not he caused further suffering by what he did,” said Abelson. “It kind of cuts both ways.”
Abelson added, “He loved his dog, there’s no doubt about it.”
While Miranda was trying to get Cocoa help, “I think he caused further suffering because of his actions,” said Abelson, adding she didn’t believe he was doing it intentionally but still believed there was negligence.
Had he gotten the dog to the vet, “I think the dog would have died anyway,” Abelson said.
The other things that both prosecution and defense appeared to agree on are that Miranda had recently fallen on hard times, had been temporarily homeless and was transient.
His criminal history – including the fight with the officer ahead of Cocoa’s death – also was fairly recent, they said.
Both Abelson and Sullivan acknowledged that the social media reaction to the case had heightened the emotional response.
During jury selection, people acknowledged having heard about the case, and only two prospective jurors were dismissed after they said they had seen information about Miranda online and believed he was guilty.
One of the important factors in the case was to let the judge or a jury decide it, said Abelson, noting they worked hard to keep the influences of social media out of the courtroom.
“It wasn’t trial by Facebook,” she said.
Miranda had remained in jail since his arrest. By day’s end, Lake County Jail booking records indicated he had been released.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake is completing an update to its 2012 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Flood, drought, wildfire, earthquakes and severe weather are just a few of the hazards Lake County faces.
While natural hazards such as these cannot be prevented, a hazard mitigation plan forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses by breaking the repeated cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction.
Additionally, only communities with a hazard mitigation plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are eligible to apply for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant funding.
Another benefit of this plan update is to enhance the floodplain management program of Lake County, which officials said can help reduce the costs of flood insurance to residents through a jurisdiction’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.
The plan update process began in June 2017 with an initial public and planning meeting and the establishment of a planning committee comprised of representatives from the county, cities, special districts, other key stakeholders and the public.
The plan is scheduled to be finalized and submitted to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA in February.
The public review draft of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update is available at http://www.lakesheriff.com/About/OES/Plans.htm .
Paper copies also are available at Lake County libraries in Middletown, Clearlake, Lakeport and Upper Lake. Printed copies can also be viewed at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Martin Street in Lakeport as well as the Lake County Courthouse on Forbes Street in Lakeport.
The final public meetings to review and provide comments on the public review draft of the plan will take place as follows:
– Public meeting: Feb. 1, 6 p.m., Kelseyville High School Student Center, 5480 Main St.
– Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting: Feb. 2, 9 a.m., Lake County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 255 North Forbes St., Lakeport.
The county encourages attendance and participation from the public and all interested stakeholders in either the planning or public meetings. Please select the date and location that works best for you.
There are several options for providing comments on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Public Review Draft:
– Email comments toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
– Drop off written comments or send by mail to Lake County OES, Attn: Dale Carnathan, 1220 Martin St., Lakeport.
– Bring comments to the meeting.
In addition, the public is invited to participate in an online survey on hazards and hazard mitigation in Lake County at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G8JHVR7.
For more information contact OES Manager Dale Carnathan at 707-263-3450 or email atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Flood, drought, wildfire, earthquakes and severe weather are just a few of the hazards Lake County faces.
While natural hazards such as these cannot be prevented, a hazard mitigation plan forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses by breaking the repeated cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction.
Additionally, only communities with a hazard mitigation plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are eligible to apply for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant funding.
Another benefit of this plan update is to enhance the floodplain management program of Lake County, which officials said can help reduce the costs of flood insurance to residents through a jurisdiction’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.
The plan update process began in June 2017 with an initial public and planning meeting and the establishment of a planning committee comprised of representatives from the county, cities, special districts, other key stakeholders and the public.
The plan is scheduled to be finalized and submitted to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA in February.
The public review draft of the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update is available at http://www.lakesheriff.com/About/OES/Plans.htm .
Paper copies also are available at Lake County libraries in Middletown, Clearlake, Lakeport and Upper Lake. Printed copies can also be viewed at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Martin Street in Lakeport as well as the Lake County Courthouse on Forbes Street in Lakeport.
The final public meetings to review and provide comments on the public review draft of the plan will take place as follows:
– Public meeting: Feb. 1, 6 p.m., Kelseyville High School Student Center, 5480 Main St.
– Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting: Feb. 2, 9 a.m., Lake County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 255 North Forbes St., Lakeport.
The county encourages attendance and participation from the public and all interested stakeholders in either the planning or public meetings. Please select the date and location that works best for you.
There are several options for providing comments on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Public Review Draft:
– Email comments to
– Drop off written comments or send by mail to Lake County OES, Attn: Dale Carnathan, 1220 Martin St., Lakeport.
– Bring comments to the meeting.
In addition, the public is invited to participate in an online survey on hazards and hazard mitigation in Lake County at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G8JHVR7.
For more information contact OES Manager Dale Carnathan at 707-263-3450 or email at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – After the first heavy rains of 2018 caused flooding and debris flows in Southern California, destroying nearly 100 homes, closing major highways and killing 20 people, officials continue to be concerned about how more rains will impact communities in and near burn scars across the state.
Prolonged dry spells can offer false impressions that there is no flood risk. However, once the ground is burned, it is changed, causing the water flow to be dramatic.
People should stay away from burned slopes, storm channels, and natural drainages. Those interested in flood insurance should talk to a professional to find out more.
Rates of erosion and runoff can increase to dangerous levels following wildfires in California. Wildfires dramatically change the landscape and ground conditions, which can lead to the increased risk of flooding even with light rains. Natural, unburned vegetation and soil normally act as a sponge during a rainfall event.
However, wildfires create physical changes in the landscape. The heat from a fire can bake the ground, creating a surface that will not absorb water, thereby increasing the speed with which water flows off the slope.
When these normal and protective functions are compromised or eliminated by a severe wildfire the potential for significant erosion, flooding, and debris flows is magnified.
While crews spend time during and after a wildfire identifying and repairing areas of concern before winter storms, it is important for the public to know that methods of flood, debris flow and erosion prevention are no guarantee.
Flash floods occur most often when rainfall reaches half an inch in an hour in a burned area. Other factors that can increase flooding and debris flows are how severe the fire was, how steep the terrain is, how much time the ground has had to heal itself, and the amount of post-fire vegetation recovery.
“Thousands of California residents have endured the horror of wildfires that destroyed their homes, and now many others are suffering from flooding over those same landscapes. We urge everyone living and working near the fire zones to carefully assess the threat of post-fire flooding,” said California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth.
Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci called for vigilance in the post-fire environment: “Last year’s devastating wildfires and record-breaking storms remind us of the natural disasters California faces. I encourage all Californians to look at their risks and take steps to be prepared for the next disaster.”
“This past fire season has been very deadly and damaging and now the public must prepare for flooding and erosion,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “Cal Fire and many other agencies have been working in burn areas during and after a wildfire to address these issues to help protect communities, but it is imperative that residents stay aware of their surroundings and heed all warnings and orders from emergency officials.”
Roy Wright, deputy associate administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, said: “FEMA urges Californians to seriously consider the purchase of flood insurance as the best financial protection against the increased threat of flooding created by the recent wildfires.”
Dianna Crilley, USGS’s Associate Director for Data, USGS California Water Science Center, advised Californians to use tools available online. “Early warnings issued by the National Weather Service based on computer models, rainfall forecasts, and USGS real-time streamflow data can help emergency managers and residents be informed and prepared for potentially dangerous post-fire conditions.”
Many federal, state, and local emergency agencies are partnering up to alert the public about steps to take to prepare yourself and your family ahead of winter storms.
Listen to trusted information sources and sign up for emergency alerts to ensure that if emergency strikes, you are notified as soon as possible.
Monitor incoming storms, especially if you live in burned areas or downslope of a burned area and heed all warnings and orders from emergency officials.
Lastly, have an evacuation plan in place and make sure all family members are familiar with it.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two Clearlake residents were taken into custody this week after authorities said attempted to defraud the fund set up by local Rotary clubs to help wildlife survivors.
Ralph Gordon Darting, 33, and Sabrina Deann Rich, 29, were arrested on Tuesday, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Don Anderson said Darting and Rich were arrested by investigators grand theft and conspiracy to defraud the local Rotary’s 5130 Fire Relief Fund during a sting operation set up between Rotary and Anderson’s office.
Anderson said Rotary District 5130 has established a Fire Relief Fund through the Business Grant Recovery Program.
The nonprofit organization began after the 2015 Valley fire and continued through the Clayton fire and now the latest Sulphur fire. The goal of the organization is to assist in fire recovery, with an emphasis on getting storefront, agriculture and home businesses back into operation and preventing closure due to losses suffered as a result of fire.
On Dec. 1, Darting and Rich submitted an online application to Rotary claiming they had lost $2,900 in roofing materials and $900 in roofing tools in the fire, Anderson said.
Darting and Rich claimed the materials and tools were at a job site located at 3923 Monterey Drive in Clearlake the day prior to the fire. Anderson said they produced altered receipts in their claim of lost materials.
Rotary officials were suspicious of the claim and contacted Anderson about the claim.
Anderson said that through an investigation into the claim by his office it was discovered that the property owners were not having construction at their residence and did not know Ralph Darting. Neighbors also had not seen any construction at the residence prior to the fire.
On Dec. 20, District Attorney’s Office investigators – posing as Rotary officials – met with Darting and Rich at the claimed construction site. Darting confirmed to investigators that was the location they had stored the materials and tools that they claimed were lost in the fire. They also gave additional false information regarding the loss, Anderson said.
Anderson said that on Tuesday, Darting and Rich met with Rotary officials and district attorney investigators at Austin Park where Chief Investigator Bruce Smith presented them with a check from Rotary for $5,000.
After accepting the check, both Ralph Darting and Sabrina Rich were arrested with the assistance of Clearlake Police for grand theft and conspiracy, Anderson said.
“Rotary is a great organization that is devoted to helping the community and the citizens of Clearlake,” said Don Anderson. “It is very unfortunate that certain individuals illegally try to take advantage of the generosity of others. At the District Attorney’s Office we will not tolerate such criminal activity and we are devoted to investigating and prosecuting these crimes. We are extremely thankful to those members of Rotary who cooperated in the investigation and in bringing these individuals to justice.”
Rich, a stay-at-home mother, and Darting, a roofer, were both booked into the Lake County Jail on Tuesday, with bail for each set at $15,000, according to their booking sheets.
Jail records showed that Darting remained in custody on Thursday, but that Rich had posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
Both are tentatively scheduled to make their initial court appearances in the case on Thursday.
NICE, Calif. – A Wednesday afternoon fire destroyed a mobile home in Nice.
The fire in the abandoned mobile home at 6915 Floyd Way was first reported just after 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said his agency was dispatched to a possible structure fire. When they arrived they found the structure fully involved.
The fire was controlled in about a half-hour of firefighters’ arrival, based on reports from the scene.
He said the structure – a 1970s vintage doublewide mobile home – was a total loss.
“It’s been abandoned for approximately 20 years,” he said.
However, it appeared squatters had been living in it. Beristianos said there were some chairs and a bed that looked to have been drug into the mobile home.
Beristianos said the fire appeared suspicious. At the scene, firefighters spotted a possible suspect and gave the name to sheriff’s deputies.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – It has now been 101 days since the devastating October wildfires in Northern California and Orange County.
As of close of business Jan. 16 the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state have provided the following to survivors:
– 4,349 households have been deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance.
– FEMA has approved more than $14.3 million in Individuals and Households Program grants.
– $8.8 million for Housing Assistance.
– $5.5 million in Other Needs Assistance.
– 184 applicants (360 individuals) are living in a direct housing options: manufactured housing units, recreational vehicles or in directly leased units.
– Eight joint Local Assistance Centers and the Disaster Recovery Centers were set up to provide face-to-face disaster assistance for 16,653 disaster survivors.
The collection of household hazardous waste has been completed in seven Northern California counties.
Removal of fire and ash debris is complete in Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties and near completion in Lake County.
Efforts are ongoing in Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties and the mission is expected to be complete by early March.
So far, more than 915,000 tons of debris has been removed, which is more than half of all expected fire debris.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, are available for businesses of all sizes, certain nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
As of close of business Jan. 16, SBA:
– Approved 927 loan applications from homeowners and 110 applications for business owners.
– Approved loans total more than $132.5 million.
Survivors are advised to stay in touch via the FEMA Helpline at www.DisasterAssistance.gov , or by phone at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362. These toll-free numbers operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week, and are staffed by operators ready to assist survivors in their languages.
Registrants whose information changes are strongly urged to report the changes to FEMA.
Voluntary agency liaisons are working in each county assisting local jurisdictions, nonprofits and community stakeholders to develop and support long term recovery groups.
For more information on California’s recovery, visit www.WildfireRecovery.org or www.fema.gov/disaster/4344, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion9 and the Cal OES Web site, www.caloes.ca.gov/.
As of close of business Jan. 16 the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state have provided the following to survivors:
– 4,349 households have been deemed eligible for FEMA individual assistance.
– FEMA has approved more than $14.3 million in Individuals and Households Program grants.
– $8.8 million for Housing Assistance.
– $5.5 million in Other Needs Assistance.
– 184 applicants (360 individuals) are living in a direct housing options: manufactured housing units, recreational vehicles or in directly leased units.
– Eight joint Local Assistance Centers and the Disaster Recovery Centers were set up to provide face-to-face disaster assistance for 16,653 disaster survivors.
The collection of household hazardous waste has been completed in seven Northern California counties.
Removal of fire and ash debris is complete in Butte, Nevada and Yuba counties and near completion in Lake County.
Efforts are ongoing in Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties and the mission is expected to be complete by early March.
So far, more than 915,000 tons of debris has been removed, which is more than half of all expected fire debris.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, are available for businesses of all sizes, certain nonprofits, homeowners and renters.
As of close of business Jan. 16, SBA:
– Approved 927 loan applications from homeowners and 110 applications for business owners.
– Approved loans total more than $132.5 million.
Survivors are advised to stay in touch via the FEMA Helpline at www.DisasterAssistance.gov , or by phone at 800-621-3362. TTY users should call 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service can call 800-621-3362. These toll-free numbers operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., local time, seven days a week, and are staffed by operators ready to assist survivors in their languages.
Registrants whose information changes are strongly urged to report the changes to FEMA.
Voluntary agency liaisons are working in each county assisting local jurisdictions, nonprofits and community stakeholders to develop and support long term recovery groups.
For more information on California’s recovery, visit www.WildfireRecovery.org or www.fema.gov/disaster/4344, Twitter at www.twitter.com/femaregion9 and the Cal OES Web site, www.caloes.ca.gov/.