Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Reverses Decision to Deny Federal Aid for Creek Fire, Other State Blazes
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 3 years ago on
October 16, 2020

Share

The Trump administration has reversed itself on its decision denying California’s request for a federal disaster declaration for the Creek Fire and other recent wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday.

“Just got off the phone with President Trump who has approved our Major Disaster Declaration request,” Newsom said in a news release. “Grateful for his quick response.”

The decision came on the heels of widespread disbelief and criticism over the denial, even among Republicans.

Friday morning, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) criticized the Trump administration’s initial decision in a video conference call with reporters.

Everybody is just surprised that this decision came down. This should have been a no brainer,” Patterson told reporters during a video conference call. “We did a lot of inquiry about this, and quite frankly, FEMA just blew it.”

Patterson and other officials, including Newsom, pressed the administration to reconsider. The reversal was announced just a few hours later.

Patterson said his office had been in contact with the Central Valley’s congressional delegation to overturn the denial. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) foreshadowed the President’s decision on Twitter, reporting that his colleague, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Trump was “committed to reverse FEMA’s decision to deny the request for a federal disaster declaration for the recent fires.”

The declaration will now help the state support wildfire victims in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou counties.

“A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration helps people in the impacted counties through eligibility for support including crisis counseling, housing and unemployment assistance and legal services. It also provides federal assistance to help state, tribal and local governments fund emergency response, recovery and protective measures,” Newsom’s press release said.

Urgent Request for State Cleanup Funds

When the initial denial was issued, Patterson sent a letter to the director of Cal OES  urging the state, in the interim, to begin immediate cleanup on properties damaged in the Creek Fire.

Jim Patterson

“Everybody is just surprised that this decision came down. This should have been a no brainer. We did a lot of inquiry about this, and quite frankly, FEMA just blew it.”Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno)

“A large number of my constituents living in the area had little or no insurance,” Patterson’s letter said. “The cost of hiring a contractor for waste removal can run upwards of $70,000. Those who are underinsured may only have part of the cleanup covered. Those without insurance would be responsible for the entire cost.”

He said failure to promptly support cleanup efforts could worsen the disaster.

“This has created a nightmare scenario where those who can neither afford the cleanup nor the cost of rebuilding their homes will have no choice but to abandon their property, leaving household hazardous waste, including chemicals, burned out cars, paint cans, appliances, etc. behind,” Patterson said.

Costs Split Between the State and County

Patterson urged the CalOES to tap the state’s ‘Recovery California Disaster Assistance Account‘ for funding.

The debris removal is a seventy five twenty five split between the state and the county, with 75 percent being picked up by the state of California,” said Patterson.

The CDAA authorizes the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to administer a disaster assistance program that provides financial assistance from the state for costs incurred by local governments as a result of a disaster event.

According to the state’s website describing the account, “funding for the repair, restoration, or replacement of public real property damaged or destroyed by a disaster is made available when the Director concurs with a local emergency proclamation requesting state disaster assistance.”

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10158684501139110&id=81125319109

This story has been updated.

DON'T MISS

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

DON'T MISS

Ex-Correctional Officer at Women’s Prison in California Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Inmates

DON'T MISS

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Draw Nearly 5 Million Viewers for Second-Round NCAA Win

DON'T MISS

Canadian School Boards Sue Snapchat, TikTok and Meta for Disrupting Students’ Education

DON'T MISS

California Law Enforcement Agencies Obstruct Transparency Efforts in Use-of-Force Cases

DON'T MISS

No Police Charges for Taylor Swift’s Dad Over Paparazzi Incident in Sydney

DON'T MISS

Biden Administration to Lend $1.5B to Restart Michigan Nuclear Power Plant, a First in the US

DON'T MISS

Tonight’s Biden Fundraiser With Obama and Clinton Already Nets a Record $25 Million

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: How Going to Work for Trump Turned Devin Nunes Into a Millionaire

No data was found

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

8 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

8 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

8 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

8 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

8 hours ago

Biden’s Fundraiser with Obama and Clinton Nets a Record $25 Million, His Campaign Says

9 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

9 hours ago

Rockin’ Out or Laughing, the Valley Has Its Pick of Weekend Events

10 hours ago

Ex-Correctional Officer at Women’s Prison in California Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Inmates

12 hours ago

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Draw Nearly 5 Million Viewers for Second-Round NCAA Win

13 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

PGA HOPE, now underway at Fresno’s Riverside Golf Course, is designed to introduce golf to veterans and active duty military members t...

6 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Fresno's Riverside Golf Course
6 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

7 hours ago

Cronenworth’s Big Hit Helps Lift the Padres to a 6-4 Win Over Melvin’s Giants

8 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Reaches 3 Times in Home Debut as the Dodgers Rout the Cardinals 7-1

8 hours ago

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

8 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

8 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

8 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

8 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend