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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with families who lost their homes in the deadly Los Angeles fires, the agency’s administrator said.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswellhe told CNNThursday that the agency has yet to assess the damage, howevermore than 1,000 structureshave been left destroyed or damaged by both the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires.
“We know there are going to be a lot of families that are going to have a great need,” he said.
On Tuesday, FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help the state of California fight the wildfires.
The Fire Management Assistance Grant provides funds for 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs. FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund provides firefighting assistance.
Eligible costs may include expenses for field camps, use of equipment, materials, supplies and firefighting mobilization activities,FEMA said in a statement.
In an online post Thursday, President-elect Trump criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the response to the fire. He also criticized President Biden and arguedFEMA “has no money.”
Biden, for his part, has pointed out that “we are doing whatever and however long it takes to contain these fires”, while Newsom hashe hit Trump againfor his criticism amid the fires and touted the president’s support.
With first responders still battling the flames and officials assessing the damage in the area, Criswell told CNN that the thing that affects the victims of the wildfires the most is that the families have lost everything.
“They’ve lost all their memories, all their belongings, nothing for them to really sift through,” Criswell said. “That makes the recovery process, both physically of having to rebuild, but also emotionally, so difficult for so many people.
Criswell said FEMA officials are in Sacramento and working alongside California emergency crews.
FEMA teams will soon begin moving into shelters to help survivors register for federal government assistance, the outlet reported.
