Title
A MOTION requesting the executive provide a county response to support the people affected by fires in the greater Los Angeles area.
Body
WHEREAS multiple fires began the week of January 7, 2025, in the greater Los Angeles area and spread rapidly due to exceptionally dry conditions and hurricane force winds, and
WHEREAS those fires caused the deaths of at least 24 people and the forced evacuation of at least 150,000 people, and
WHEREAS the fires have burned more than 38,000 acres and destroyed an estimated 10,000 buildings, with estimates of economic loss as high as $150 billion, in what Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley has called "one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles," and
WHEREAS the disaster will likely have an adverse impact on housing security and housing costs for the people in the region and exacerbate the region's existing housing crisis, and
WHEREAS the council has a history of requesting the executive provide a county response to support the people of other countries that are impacted by disasters such as Motion 16209, passed in September 2022, to respond to severe flooding in Pakistan, Motion 16108, passed in April 2022, to respond to the crisis in Ukraine, and Motion 15518, passed in September 2019, to provide relief for the people of the Bahamas who were impacted by Hurricane Dorian;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The executive is requested to provide a county response to support the people affected by the fires in the Los Angeles area. The response plan should include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Consulting with, collaborating with, and providing support to local nonprofit organizations that have established ties to the people of Los Angeles and that are already providing support to the relief efforts;
B. Leveraging the employee giving program established under K.C.C. 3.36.030, leave for volunteer service policy established under K.C.C...

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