WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US President Joe Biden has ordered federal aid be sent to four California counties to fight wildfires, the White House said in a statement.
“Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of California and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on July 14, 2021, and continuing. The president’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Lassen, Nevada, Placer, and Plumas”, the statement said.
“Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programmes to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Federal funding also is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organisations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance in the counties of Lassen, Nevada, Placer, and Plumas”, it said.
As of 24 August, more than 2.5 million acres have burned in 92 large fires in 12 states. Residents in communities near 16 blazes remain evacuated amid a deployment of 26,383 firefighters and support personnel, the National Interagency Fire Centre said in its latest daily report posted on the internet.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
