President Joe Biden said on Friday that he hopes the Trump administration maintains its focus on the federal response to the deadly wildfires that have ravaged Southern California.
Biden said he expected the death toll to rise as he received briefings from federal and state officials in the Oval Office. As fires rage across Los Angeles, at least ten people have been killed and many more injured.
With only a few days left in office, Biden stated that they have been coordinating with the incoming administration on federal actions being taken to assist with fire management and victim recovery.
“My hope is that they will recognize that we have significant experience in this area and that we have performed admirably. “I hope they keep the focus,” the president said.
More than 30,000 acres were burned this week as five fires spread from the Pacific Palisades to Pasadena. Approximately 150,000 people were placed under evacuation orders, and thousands of structures, including local landmarks, were destroyed.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who is on the ground in Los Angeles, described the disaster as one of the worst she has seen in her four years leading the agency, and predicted that the rebuilding process would be difficult.
“This recovery journey will be long, but we will be there to support them every step of the way,” Criswell said as she virtually attended the White House press briefing.
Criswell stated that FEMA had sufficient funds to respond to the fires immediately, citing Congress’s provision of $27 billion for the agency’s disaster fund in December.
When pressed by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce about the cost in comparison to other natural disasters, Criswell said it was difficult to put an exact number because they were still surveying the damage, but they “know that this is going to be billions.”
In discussing the transition, Criswell stated that FEMA has a dedicated staff that will continue to support Californians, as well as a “whole team” dedicated to assisting President-elect Donald Trump’s transition operation.
“They’re providing regular briefings to them on a daily basis and so we’re providing whatever information that they ask for,” she told me.
As the fires rage, Trump has blamed Democrats such as Biden and Newsom, and spread misinformation. Criswell was asked if any such misinformation came up during their briefings with his team, but she did not respond directly.
President Biden announced on Thursday that the federal government would cover 100% of Los Angeles’ recovery costs for 180 days. This would include debris removal, which the administration anticipates will be extremely costly, as well as temporary shelters and compensation for first responders.
“I mean, they look like a bomb hit,” Biden said on Friday about the devastation. “They look like they’re actually been blown up, entire sections of the cities blown up.”
Biden stated that FEMA has activated critical needs assistance, which provides survivors with a one-time payment of $750 to help them purchase essential items such as water, formula, gasoline, and prescription drugs.
Biden also emphasized the need for Congress to act, stating that he was unsure whether he would still be in the White House to do so.
“We’re going to need the United States Congress to follow up with appropriations to help provide for significant help for fellow Americans who need this help to pay for these programs that we have, because a lot more is going to be happening,” Mr. Biden said.
The issue of FEMA funding is likely to come up when the next government spending deadline arrives in mid-March.
