California granted Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for February storm recovery efforts

Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration has been approved by President Joe Biden, providing aid to nine California counties following February’s storms.

Announced Sunday by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the declaration will support recovery efforts after the storms brought widespread flooding and mudslides to the state. The counties receiving aid include Butte, Glenn, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sutter and Ventura.

“This declaration brings in more resources for local communities across the state recovering from the widespread impacts of these storms,” Gov. Newsom said.

In his initial request, Newsom claimed that the February disasters cost the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, nearly $88 million. FEMA estimated that the damage in L.A. County alone was worth nearly $53 million.

Newsom cited the seven-inches of rainfall in downtown Los Angeles between Feb. 4 and 5 as the cause of debris flow and mudslides. The Department of Public Works responded to 553 fallen trees and branches, 1,180 reports of potholes as a result.

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