As California has weathered more than a dozen atmospheric rivers beginning in December, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has led the response involving nearly every part of state government to the widespread storm impacts. As the work turns to recovery, thousands of Cal OES and other state agency employees continue to be actively engaged in local communities statewide.
On April 4, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., approved the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. FEMA assistance is now available to affected California communities following the storms in February and March, including the following:
- Individual assistance: Assistance to individuals and households to repair or replace damaged property. Housing assistance available only for primary residence. Other Needs Assistance (ONA) may include transportation, childcare and medical and dental expenses. FEMA works with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer low-interest disaster loans to businesses (including private non-profit organizations), homeowners, and renters with physical damage.
- Counties included: Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties
- County added as of April 14, 2023: San Bernandino
- Counties added as of May 2, 2023: Madera, Mendocino and Mono
- County added as of May 25, 2023: Butte
- County added as of June 9, 2023: San Luis Obispo
- County added as of June 30, 2023: Nevada
- Public assistance: Assistance for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities.
- Counties included: Calaveras, Los Angeles, Monterey, and Tulare counties
- Counties added as of April 14, 2023: Alpine, Fresno, Kings, Merced, Sierra, Kern, Mariposa, San Benito, Tuolumne and Trinity counties
- Counties added as of May 2, 2023: Amador, Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Inyo, Madera, Modoc, Santa Cruz and San Francisco
- Counties added as of May 25, 2023: El Dorado, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mono, Napa, Nevada, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara and Shasta
- Counties added as of June 9, 2023: Plumas, Solano, Sonoma
- Counties added of July 24, 2023: Alameda, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Ventura
- Hazard mitigation: Assistance to state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
- Counties included: All 58 counties
HOW TO APPLY:
In particular, residents and business owners in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties who sustained losses in the designated areas can apply for disaster assistance:
- Online at Disasterassistance.gov
- Calling 800-621-3362
- By using the FEMA App on your smart phone:
- If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service
The deadline to apply is extended to SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
If you need help in person, disaster recovery centers (DRC) are open with a variety of state agencies to help individuals impacted by the storms. Click HERE to see a current list of open DRCs near you.
For additional information regarding assistance, click the links below:
What Individuals Can Expect After Registering for Federal Assistance
What Business Owners Can Expect After Registering for Federal Assistance
Be Alert to Fraud After a Disaster
For more news, go to news.caloes.ca.gov