"One year ago, Nancy Ward, then the director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), petitioned the Federal Emergency Management Agency to spearhead the cleanup of toxic ash and fire debris cloaking more than 12,000 homes across Los Angeles County. Although Ward's decision ensured the federal government would assume the bulk of disaster costs, it came with a major trade off."
"Following intense backlash from fire survivors and California lawmakers, Ward pleaded with FEMA to reconsider its soil-testing stance, writing in a Feb. 19 letter that it is "critical to protect public health" and "ensure that survivors can safely return to their homes." Her request was denied. However, in October, Cal OES - under Ward's leadership - privately considered discontinuing state funding for soil testing in the aftermath of future wildfires, according to a confidential, internal draft memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times."
Nancy Ward petitioned FEMA to lead cleanup of toxic ash and fire debris covering more than 12,000 Los Angeles County homes. FEMA agreed to assume the bulk of disaster costs but declined to fund soil sampling to confirm whether homes remained contaminated after cleanup. Ward wrote a Feb. 19 letter urging FEMA to reconsider, saying soil testing was critical to protect public health and ensure survivors could safely return. The request was denied. In October, Cal OES privately considered discontinuing state funding for soil testing, according to a confidential internal draft memo. Allegations later emerged that federal contractors illegally dumped toxic ash and misused contaminated soil. Ward retired on Dec. 30 and her deputy Christina Curry stepped in.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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