Rep. Huffman, Bipartisan CA Lawmakers to President Trump: Declare a Major Disaster Declaration for Flooding Damage

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release:

Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and a group of bipartisan California lawmakers today sent a congressional letter urging the president to approve California's request for a major disaster declaration for flooding damage.

"It is clear that a major disaster declaration is necessary, and that federal assistance programs should be made available, so that our communities can recover from the flood damage that has overwhelmed state, local, and tribal response capacity," wrote the lawmakers in today's letter.

"We strongly support the State of California's request for a major disaster declaration in the areas affected by atmospheric river storms this year. We appreciate your full and fast consideration of this request, and stand ready to expedite support and resources to the impacted communities," continued the members of Congress.

The disaster declaration will allow federal resources to be made available for public assistance to rebuild and recover after the widespread damage and flooding, caused by atmospheric river storm systems that swept the state beginning in February 2019.

In addition to Rep. Huffman and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), the letter was signed by Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Corona), Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove), Julia Brownley (D-Thousand Oaks), Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley), TJ Cox (D-Fresno), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), Katie Hill (D-Agua Dulce), Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine), Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento), Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte), Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Scott H. Peters (D-San Diego), Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), Katie Porter (D-Irvine), Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona), Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), and Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose).

You can read the full text of the letter below:

Dear Mr. President:

We write to support the State of California's request for a major disaster declaration for the widespread damage and flooding caused by atmospheric river storm systems sweeping the state beginning in February 2019.

These extraordinarily severe atmospheric river storm systems broke at least 51 daily precipitation records throughout the state and brought high winds, mud and debris flows, erosion, dangerous flooding, and damage to critical infrastructure including levees and county roads. A joint federal, state, and local preliminary damage assessment began on March 2, 2019; damages are expected to exceed $100 million for the February 13-15 storm system, and $57 million for the February 24-March 1 storm system.

Reflecting the statewide damage from these storm systems, Governor Gavin Newsom requested that you declare a major disaster on April 13, 2019, pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288), including hazard mitigation statewide and public assistance for the counties of Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Los Angeles, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolomne, and Yolo.

It is clear that a major disaster declaration is necessary, and that federal assistance programs should be made available, so that our communities can recover from the flood damage that has overwhelmed state, local, and tribal response capacity.

We strongly support the State of California's request for a major disaster declaration in the areas affected by atmospheric river storms this year. We appreciate your full and fast consideration of this request, and stand ready to expedite support and resources to the impacted communities.