On Sunday evening while at the 10th North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City, Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in California due to extreme winter storms, floods, and mudslides that started on Jan 8, 2023, and continue to cause hardship for the local population, according to a White House press release.
In response, he authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a part of the Department of Homeland Security, to coordinate disaster relief efforts aimed at reducing suffering and saving lives, as well as protecting property and public health and safety in El Dorado, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Ventura counties.
FEMA has the discretion to provide equipment and resources as needed to alleviate the impacts of the emergency and will receive 75% federal funding for emergency protective measures (Category B) under the Public Assistance program.
Deanne Criswell, Administrator of FEMA, has appointed Andrew F. Grant as the Federal Coordinating Officer for recovery operations in the affected areas.
