President Biden has pledged that the federal government will cover 100% of disaster response costs related to the fires for the next six months. The fires have already claimed at least 24 lives.
“We are not waiting until the fires are over to assist victims. We are helping them right now,” Biden stated. “Those affected by these fires will receive a one-time payment of $770, allowing them to quickly purchase essentials like water, baby formula, and prescriptions.”
The federal government will fully cover firefighting costs for the next 180 days. So far, nearly $5.1 million in immediate aid has been distributed, and residents impacted by the fires are eligible for one-time payments of $770. According to FEMA, approximately 33,000 people have registered for assistance.
“It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to restore Los Angeles to its former state,” President Biden said during a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials. “We’re going to need Congress to step up with the necessary funding.”
The briefing also focused on identifying remaining federal responsibilities related to the fires before Biden leaves office next week. Discussions centered on how the White House and administration officials could better support state and local authorities in California.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell participated in the meeting and later emphasized in media interviews that California officials were not unprepared for the fires. Instead, she attributed the extensive damage to 100 mph winds and dry conditions, which made the destruction unavoidable.
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