Congressmen Obernolte

asks President to stand ready

Federal Disaster Declaration

 

March 3, 2023__

Washington DC___ U.S. Congressmen Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), John Duarte (CA-13), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Tom McClintock (CA-05), David Valadao (CA-22), and Mike Garcia (CA-27) sent an official request to President Joe Biden Friday, March 3rd  morning to ask the President to stand ready to grant a federal disaster declaration for California’s mountain communities should the necessary request from the Governor’s office be made.

Following a letter signed by twelve members of the California Congressional Delegation on Wednesday, Governor Newsom declared a state emergency for the counties of Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma, and Tulare. 

“It is critical that federal resources are ready and able to act quickly to supplement state and county efforts to help these communities regain access to food and medical care, rebuild damaged buildings and homes, assist small businesses forced to close, and avert further catastrophe,” said the Members of Congress in a letter.

“Should the state of California seek a federal disaster designation, we ask that your administration grant the request immediately to add federal assets and resources to these critical recovery efforts. Doing so will help to ensure that these threats to public health and safety are appropriately managed and mitigated.”

Over the past week, historic winter storms have resulted in a multitude of collapsed buildings, stranded or trapped residents and visitors, blocked roads, and have left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity or access to critical lifesaving resources including fuel, medications, doctors, and even basic necessities such as groceries. In the remote community of Crestline, residents are facing increasing numbers of collapsing roofs on homes and businesses due to the weight of the snow, and the collapse of the roof on the local grocery store has brought food supplies to dangerously low levels. Access to local critical infrastructure such as wastewater treatment has also been cut off in places, risking further catastrophe.

 

Obernolte.house.gov