Project Phoenix

The moment the fire began consuming homes in our community, the Scripps Ranch Civic Association began the process of how to deal with the impact on a communitywide basis. With the help of Councilmember Brian Maienschein and his staff, a volunteer grassroots organization began, and with good networking, Project Phoenix--named after the mythical bird that was consumed by fire, but rose renewed from the ashes--began to take shape. Project Phoenix became a multi-task effort to not only physically rebuild the homes but to assist people throughout the county. Under the SRCA, Bob Dingeman, Webmaster Greg Minter, Gloria Tran, and I led the organizing committee. We laid out a structure that includes the website, volunteer coordination, and rebuilding assistance. Project Phoenix has taken many different steps and established several goals, including:

• Making the SRCA website the place for information and awareness;
• Gathering displaced resident information to be able to contact them;
• Taking digital photographs of damaged and destroyed homes;
• Helping with erosion control--sandbags, stilt fencing, and hay bales;
• Helping with the demolition and rebuild decision-making process; Insurance--be a clearinghouse and facilitating interest groups;
• Partnering with volunteer legal assistance;
• and Using the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to assist the city with protecting storm drains, preventing erosion, and locating existing swimming pools.

The SRCA formed an advisory committee with the goal of providing a coordinated effort for addressing the recovery and rebuilding process. The program mission is to provide: immediate term needs, such as cleanup and removal; near term, which include creating rebuilding options; and, long term, rebuilding your home. Instrumental in this advisory committee are Brian Mooney, Mike Asaro, Guy Asaro, and Alex Hardy.

The immediate effort of this committee is focused on cleanup. At the community meeting two nights after the fire, several people asked if a plan could be developed to leverage the amount of properties damaged to secure volume pricing on the cleanup efforts.

By encouraging residents to work cooperatively, there would be potential benefits to displaced residents and the community such as: increased efficiency; taking advantage of economics of scale; eliminating opportunities for scams; verified contractor licensing compliance; greater environmental compliance--a storm water pollution prevention plan; improved site safety; reduced dust and pollution disturbance; less noise and traffic; and, potential coordination with homeowners' insurance.

Under the guidance of Awilda Parada and Cathy Ripka, the SRCA also dedicated coordinators to help with carpooling, clothing, labor and time, financial donations, services, and housing relocation. The real assistance comes with the hundreds of volunteers who have been gracious with time, money, and gifts. If you would like to volunteer, please email [webmaster@scrippsranch.org].

Volunteers from Scripps Ranch stepped up and continue to offer help to staff the SRCA table at the Local Assistance Center. Every day, new information and issues arise making it so important to have residents at the center. The SRCA has set up computers with Internet capability for residents to access the website, their own email, and do any word processing.

The unofficial Chief Deputy Sandbagger is Clint Carney from Councilmember Maienschein's office. Doug Williams has undertaken the task of coordinating the sandbag effort that has likely placed over 25,000 sandbags. So many groups and individuals volunteered. The Old Pros have been exemplary in finding not only volunteers but also trucks to deliver the bags to where they are needed.

Offers of assistance are coming from all over. The amount of things going through a person's mind after losing a home is hard to imagine. There are a dizzying number of issues, concerns, unqualified advice, and problems. It is our mission to see that the best information is made available to displaced residents and to provide a clear path to keep the proper focus on rebuilding.

All in all, it has been an extraordinary effort by hundreds of people to help residents who lost their homes and to help rebuild our incredible community. The SRCA Newsletter and website at [www.scrippsranch.org] will have the very latest information throughout the entire rebuilding process.

Bob Ilko, Project Phoenix