In a move to provide immediate relief to those impacted by the devastating California wildfires, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that the federal government will distribute one-time payments of $770 to residents affected by the fires. The funds are intended to help people cover essential costs such as baby formula, prescription medications, food, and clothing.
During a briefing from the Oval Office, Biden shared that nearly 6,000 individuals have already been approved to receive payments, amounting to a total of $5.1 million disbursed so far. He emphasized that the federal government is not waiting for the fires to subside before providing assistance. “We’re not waiting until those fires are over to start helping the victims. We’re getting them help right now,” the president stated.
The announcement follows Biden’s approval of California’s disaster declaration on January 8, 2025, which has unlocked federal funds to aid individuals in Los Angeles. These funds will cover temporary housing, home repairs, and low-interest loans for uninsured property damage. Biden also committed to covering 100% of the costs of California’s disaster response for six months, ensuring the state has the resources it needs during this crisis.
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However, Biden stressed that additional funding will be necessary to fully address the aftermath of the fires. In his Monday evening briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency response officials, he urged Congress to allocate more money to support California’s recovery efforts. “It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles to what it was,” Biden remarked, calling on lawmakers to provide essential funding.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell provided an update during the briefing, noting that approximately 33,000 individuals have already requested federal assistance due to the fires. The number of requests continues to climb, and officials do not expect this demand to decrease in the near future.
Currently, around 700 to 800 people are being housed in emergency shelters, although many others have found refuge with family, friends, or in hotel accommodations. Through the federal disaster declaration, individuals staying in hotels are eligible for reimbursement for their lodging expenses.
In addition to FEMA’s response, federal resources, including those from the Department of Defense and the National Guard, have been deployed to combat the wildfires, which have claimed at least 24 lives to date.
As California continues to battle these catastrophic wildfires, the federal government is mobilizing to provide much-needed financial aid and logistical support to those affected by this devastating crisis.
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