Report your wind damage now

Tree slams into house in El Segundo. Photo by PacificCoastNews.com

The monster winds have blown out of town but now Los Angeles County residents are facing a massive clean-up operation. If your property suffered any kind of damage in the windstorm, the county Office of Emergency Management wants to hear from you.

They’re hoping to receive information from everyone who sustained damage, regardless of which city or part of the county they live in. In addition to information about what was damaged, they also want to know whether you have insurance to cover all or part of the losses.

The information will help the county complete an initial damage estimate—information which could help it to qualify for state and federal assistance, such as low-interest loans to property owners.

Residents and business owners from the 3^rd District, as well as other parts of the county such as the hard-hit San Gabriel Valley, are encouraged to report their wind damages as soon as they can. Those with internet access can fill out a simple wind damage form here. Reports can also be made by calling 211, or the county’s disaster hotline, 1-800-980-4990.

The winds, which gusted at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour, toppled hundreds of trees, closed roads and schools and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity. A county state of emergency has been in effect since Dec. 1. In the aftermath of the windstorm, those who want to prepare for whatever the next disaster will bring can check out an array of county resources here.

Posted 12/7/11