WHITE CITY, Ore. -- On Thursday, FEMA held as press conference to discuss the recovery efforts for the Almeda Fire.
It's been a challenge. I think we've seen a really unprecedented devastation and destruction, across the landscape here in Oregon, especially here in Jackson County. The Almeda fire, was one of the most devastating disasters I've ever had to work in my career as an emergency manager,” Andrew Phelps, The Director of the Oregon Office of Emergency management said.
In the areas of Talent and Phoenix that were leveled by the Almeda Fire, seven mobile home parks are beginning to have ash and debris removal done. The process for cleaning up home sites is at last beginning to pick up, with more than 600 homes cleared and more than 200 almost ready for reconstruction.
Right now, Right Dyer with the Jackson County Board of Commissioners said that they are looking transitioning those that were displaced by the fire into interim housing. Dyer said that several people are currently living in the Willow Estates area as well as the Rogue Valley RV Park. Right now, they are working on cleaning up some of the mobile home parks that were burned out.
“The Ash and trash up on the three that have been identified to be used, for interim housing facilities, has all been completed. They're now looking at, establishing the contracts for the asbestos testing, and then they could start pad restoration. And then hopefully by the end of May and early June, we'll be able to move in the rest of the, applicants,” Dyer said.
Dyer expects those displaced will be able to move into interim housing by that point.
