Biden Announces $770 One-Time Federal Aid for California Wildfire Victims Amidst Devastating Los Angeles County Fires
U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged a $770 one-time federal payment to victims of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, one of the worst wildfire crises in California's history. The announcement came on Monday as Biden's presidency nears its conclusion.
According to Hollywood Unlocked, the wildfires have already claimed 29 lives, sparking widespread concern across the country. In a meeting, Biden committed to immediate financial assistance for victims and announced that the federal government would cover 100% of disaster response costs for the next six months.
“We are not waiting until the fires are over to help victims. We are helping them right now,” Biden stated. “People impacted by these fires will receive a one-time payment of $770 to quickly purchase essentials like water, baby formula, and prescriptions. So far, nearly 6,000 survivors have registered, and $5.1 million in aid has been disbursed.”
Biden also urged affected individuals to visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 to apply for federal assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported that approximately 33,000 residents have registered for disaster relief so far.
During a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials, Biden highlighted the immense scale of the disaster. “It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to restore Los Angeles to what it was. Congress must step up with additional funding,” he stressed.
AccuWeather estimates total damage and economic losses from the fires to be between $250 billion and $275 billion. This surpasses the damage caused by the 2020 California wildfire season and Hurricane Helene in 2024, which cost between $225 billion and $250 billion. The losses also far exceed the 2023 Maui wildfires in Hawaii, which resulted in damages estimated at $13 billion to $16 billion.
Federal aid efforts continue as California grapples with the aftermath of this catastrophic natural disaster.
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