In response to heavy storm damage, the federal government will be providing aid to the state of California, as announced by the White House April 3, after President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration.
While storms have persistently pounded the state so far this year, the statement notes that relief is aimed at assisting local recovery efforts in areas affected by “severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides beginning on February 21, and continuing,” according to the announcement. Funding will include “grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs.”
Biden appointed Andrew F. Grant of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) to head recovery efforts.
Gov. Gavin Newsom requested the emergency measure in a letter to FEMA dated March 28, detailing the destruction and fiscal impact of the storms.
“This declaration brings in more vital resources as we continue to work in lockstep with local, state and federal partners to support communities that have been turned upside down by these storms,” Newsom said in a statement April 3.
At the time of the request, the state had already invested $60 million in recovery actions, including Caltrans employing 3,500 workers in 24/7 shifts keeping roads safe and plowing snow. As of March 28, Caltrans personnel had plowed 530 million cubic yards of snow this year.
For residents and businesses in the counties of Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne, this decision allows those impacted by the storms to apply for federal relief at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Assessments are currently underway, which could expand the scope of the program, Newsom said in the statement. Record snowpack is making it difficult to assess some areas, and accurate analyses will take time to complete.
California’s ongoing recovery efforts will be bolstered by federal aid, with the California National Guard deploying and assisting other personnel with lifesaving missions, according to the statement released by the governor’s office.
Priorities include the “mobilization of food, water, sandbags, cots, and other commodities to areas in need; and providing equipment and personnel to assist in the fortification of levees, clearing of debris and snow from roadways, medical support at shelters, and staffing support for local assistance centers.”
State, tribal, and eligible local governments and non-profit organizations in the counties of Calaveras, Los Angeles, Monterey, and Tulare can apply for cost-share agreements for repairing and replacing damaged facilities. Hazard mitigation services statewide are also eligible for cost-share relief.
The recent announcement follows a previous declaration from Biden March 10 assisting local storm relief programs. Newsom also expanded the state’s emergency declaration four days later to include 21 additional counties, bringing the total to 43 affected by storms and eligible for some measure of relief.
“First responders and state personnel are on the ground in hard-hit regions across California to assist the ongoing response and recovery,” Newsom said. “We are committed to supporting our communities over the long haul and thank the Biden Administration for their continued partnership.”
