President Joe Biden declares major disaster for areas hit hard by winter storms in California

WASHINGTON DC — The Biden administration announced Saturday that it is declaring a major disaster for the state of California and has ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas hit by severe winter storms, flooding and late-onset mudslides. in December.

This makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties and includes assistance for temporary housing, recovery, repairs and property loss caused by recent winter storms across the state.

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“California is grateful for President Biden’s swift confirmation of this critical support for communities reeling from these ongoing storms,” ​​Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement issued shortly after the state of emergency. “We will continue to work with local, state and federal partners to help keep Californians safe and make sure our communities have the resources and assistance they need to rebuild and recover.”

Federal funding is also available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the same states.

The administration also said federal funding would be available “on a cost-sharing basis for hazard reduction measures across the state.”

MORE: California storm live updates. Get the latest coverage of the Bay Area’s preparation and recovery efforts here

The statement released by the state office says: “With the ongoing storms and flooding, the state and its partners are working quickly to begin recovery efforts and help Californians return home as soon as it is safe to do so. Work is underway to remove hazardous waste. and clean up the debris, and there are teams on the ground doing damage assessments documenting the extent of the losses so the state can maximize its requests for federal assistance.”

Earlier this month, Newsom declared a state of emergency in California and applied for federal aid.

Biden’s team is currently conducting damage assessments in other affected areas of the state, which could lead to additional areas for relief once the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and businesses experiencing damage in designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or using the FEMA app.