Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
President Biden said the federal government will provide one-time payments of $770 to people affected by the ongoing California wildfires, so they can pay for essentials like baby formula, prescriptions, clothing and food.
Biden made the announcement Thursday evening during an Oval Office briefing on the situation Southern California. According to the president, nearly 6,000 people have been approved for payments so far, bringing the total to $5.1 million that has already gone out through this program.
“We’re not waiting until these fires are over to start helping the victims. We’re getting help right now,” Biden said from the Oval Office.
President Biden asks a question while being briefed on the federal response to the wildfires in Los Angeles during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
The president approved California’s disaster declaration on January 8, opening federal funding to affected people in Los Angeles for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners. recover from wildfires. In addition, the president pledged that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost California disaster response for a period of six months.
Meanwhile, during Monday evening’s briefing, Biden called on Congress to step up more funding for the wildfire and its victims.
NEWSOM DEFENDS FIRE RESPONSE WITH FACT-CHECKING SITE THAT LINKS TO DEM PARTY FUNDRAISING PLATFORM
“It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles back to what it was,” Biden said during a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials. “We’re going to need Congress is moving forward with the funding”.
Ari Rivera and Anderson Hao stand in front of their destroyed home in Altadena, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell said during Monday’s briefing that a total of 33,000 people affected by the California wildfires had requested federal assistance. He said the number continues to rise and they don’t expect it to slow down anytime soon.
Criswell added during Monday’s Oval Office briefing that between 700 and 800 people were currently staying in eight emergency shelters as a result of the wildfire, noting that meant many people had found shelter with family and friends or in hotel rooms. Criswell said that through the federal government’s disaster declaration, people staying in hotels could be reimbursed for the costs.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition to FEMA, the Department of Defense and the National Guard have also deployed federal resources to help fight the fires that have so far claimed at least 24 lives.
