Uffer Directs OES to Release Info on Lost Homes
The following is an e-mail from County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer to the five members of the Board of Supervisors, their chiefs of staff, county emergency services officials and the Assessor's Office, regarding the release of information about wildfire damage to homes in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Hopefully, this clears up what has become a confusing situation.
Uffer's e-mail reads:
"The County Administrative office under the direction of the Board of Supervisors has directed the County Fire Department Office of Emergency Services, Emergency Operations Center, to manage the process of releasing property damage and loss information in the manner that has been customary to the organization.
In an effort to provide the necessary support services to those residents suffering catastrophic losses no information is to be posted online, as this will potentially undermine the residents use of the Local Assistance Center being operated by the County in conjunction with FEMA.
As has been customary, the organization attempts to deliver this very sensitive information in person so as to provide the necessary grief counseling and support services to those affected."
-- George Watson
I just talked to Dennis West in the department referred to in your article. His department was #1 not aware of this and #2 not doing it. The assessors office is. Looks like Mr Uffer is either not in charge, not communicating or just wrong - none of which are very good at this point.
Dennis West's department (the Office of Emergency Services) received Mr. Uffer's directive at 8:49 a.m. His department was aware of it and has complied.