Joe Biden announced Thursday that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs for the initial response to the Southern California fires for six months.
The funding would go toward debris removal, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and more for 180 days.
Meeting with federal officials at the White House, Biden said the funds would go toward debris removal, temporary shelters, salaries for first responders and more for 180 days.
Read more: https://t.co/6LxqIsuRiX
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) January 10, 2025
Per ABC News:
Biden said he emphasized to California officials they should “spare no expense to do what they need to do.”
He also had a message for residents impacted by the ravaging fires: “We are with you. We are not going anywhere. To the firefighters and first responders, you are heroes.”
“The cost of the debris cleanup is gigantic, gigantic. The cost of replacing the housing is almost exponential,” he continued. “Anybody can give you a number now, they have no idea what they’re talking about. It’s big, big, big.”
He added, “I’m going to make an appeal right now to the United States Congress. They’re going to have to step up when we ask for more help to get people the kind of – they need, to get the kind of help they need. Because it really does matter.”
ADVERTISEMENTAs Biden spoke, five fires were spreading around the Los Angeles area. Roughly 28,000 acres had been scorched and hundreds of thousands of people evacuated. At least five people died in the fires, and many more injured.
While Biden said California would have 100% of costs covered, Hurricane Helene victims were kicked out of temporary shelter in freezing temperatures.
According to WLOS News 13, thousands of North Carolina households are scheduled to lose FEMA assistance as brutal winter weather approaches.
The outlet reports 3,500 households will lose their Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) from the agency.
X users noted the difference in response between the two geographic locations:
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT…
JOE BIDEN IS PAYING 100% OF CALIFORNIA FIRE RECOVERY WHILE #WNC FAMILIES HERE JUST NOW GOT A MEASLY 24 HOUR EXTENSION OF THEIR HOTEL STAY SO FEMA DOESN’T KICK 3,000 OF THEM OUT INTO THE ICE AND SNOW?!!
WHAT IS HAPPENING?! https://t.co/K4DLxd6VS5
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) January 10, 2025
It’s absolutely unbelievable that people in North Carolina are still living in tents in the snow and the federal government did absolutely nothing for these people, but Joe Biden has already pledged to provide California 100% support for these fires.
1/20 can’t come soon enough.…
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) January 9, 2025
WATCH:
BREAKING - Joe Biden has announced that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of all necessary life-saving measures in California.
Where was this for Hurricane Helene?
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) January 9, 2025
CBS News reports:
The 100% disaster response coverage from the federal government for the next 180 days is an increase from the current 75% the president previously allotted, and more than the 90% Mr. Biden said California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested. The damage is expected to be one of the most expensive disasters in California history. Three fires are still raging, the president said, and 179,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes.
Congress may need to pass supplemental funding to buoy rebuilding efforts, and the president urged Congress to "step up."
"I'm going to make an appeal right now to the United States Congress," he said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been working with displaced locals to get them immediate supplies, like baby food. The president said the federal government will help people there not just recover, but eventually rebuild.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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