Newsom Takes Several Executive Actions in Response to Winter Storm Impacts
On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Alameda, Marin, Modoc and Shasta counties resulting from a series of severe winter storms which have resulted in “significant storm-related impacts, including flooding, toppled trees, downed power lines and power outages, damage to commercial and residential structures, roads, and other critical infrastructure.”
States of emergency had previously been proclaimed for 43 other counties (the only counties not presently under a state of emergency are Colusa, Contra Costa, Lassen, Riverside, San Diego, Siskiyou, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura and Yolo counties). The proclamations activate the California National Guard and tap “All agencies of the state government” to assist in disaster response and relief efforts in the counties designated as suffering a state of emergency.
Governor Newsom on Tuesday also issued a request to President Joe Biden for “a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the emergency response and recovery in the counties of Calaveras, Kern, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne,” according to a press release. Newsom’s letter also requests that “U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans and funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Loan Program” be made available within impacted counties.
As of press time, President Biden had yet to act on the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration request. While an Emergency Declaration was issued on March 10, assistance granted under an Emergency Declaration is narrower than that provided under a Major Disaster Declaration.
Finally, Governor Newsom on Friday issued an executive order to support Tulare Lake Basin flood response. The order suspends statutes relating to lake and streambed alteration and the California Environmental Quality Act within the Tulare Lake Basin “to expedite preparation and recovery efforts” and boosts emergency-response staffing, according to a press release.
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The article linked below contains details on the $42 million in USDA grant funding that was provided to United Ways of California and other non-governmental organizations through the Farm Workers Relief Grant Program.
This program was funded leveraging COVID-19 funds so there are some eligibility considerations.
https://www.unitedwaysca.org/press-releases/610-usda-farmerworker-grant
The funding is being disbursed through the following United Way locations:
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