Panetta Leads 25 Bipartisan Members of the California Congressional Delegation to Urge Extension for FEMA Assistance
Monterey, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and a bipartisan group of 25 Members of the California Congressional Delegation wrote Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell in support of California's request to extend the registration deadline for FEMA individual assistance from the January winter storms, following recent severe weather.
The current deadline for constituents to apply for FEMA individual assistance is March 16. Constituents need to recover destroyed or lost critical documents like tax information, and it can take considerable time to complete FEMA applications. Other constituents need to correct or appeal rejected applications.
"Our communities have barely begun to recover from January's severe storms, which caused damage estimated to exceed $1 billion," the Members wrote. "While our constituents are still working to apply for and receive federal relief, they now face additional damages and evacuations due to current atmospheric rivers. These circumstances have made it difficult for those who have not yet completed their applications to do so."
The Members concluded, "We urge you to extend this deadline for our constituents who have been unable to recover between historic storms and have faced emergencies and losses twice in the past three months. These families cannot afford to miss out on any federal relief due to the unfortunate timing of the deadline and current emergencies."
Additional Members signing the letter include; Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Judy Chu (CA-28), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-16), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31), Katie Porter (CA-47), Adam Schiff (CA-30), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Mike Thompson (CA-04), and David G. Valadao (CA-22).
Read the full letter here and below.
Dear Administrator Criswell:
We write in support of the state of California's request for an extension of the registration deadline for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) individual assistance for the January 2023 California winter storms disaster (DR-4683-CA). Our constituents are currently facing yet another flood event, and many have been displaced right before the March 16, 2023 deadline. Extending this deadline will allow victims to focus on their safety, instead of paperwork, as they continue to experience the fallout from current winter storms.
Our communities have barely begun to recover from January's severe storms, which caused damage estimated to exceed $1 billion. While our constituents are still working to apply for and receive federal relief, they now face additional damages and evacuations due to current atmospheric rivers. These circumstances have made it difficult for those who have not yet completed their applications to do so.
FEMA recovery centers continue to receive new applications for assistance daily. Many constituents need to recover destroyed or lost critical documents like tax information, and it can take considerable time to complete FEMA applications. Other constituents need time to correct or appeal rejected applications.
We are grateful for FEMA's support during both the January winter storms and the current atmospheric river events, but that support cannot be fully realized if those under duress cannot apply in time for funding. We are confident that FEMA did not anticipate this current storm when setting the current March 16 application deadline.
We urge you to extend this deadline for our constituents who have been unable to recover between historic storms and have faced emergencies and losses twice in the past three months. These families cannot afford to miss out on any federal relief due to the unfortunate timing of the deadline and current emergencies.
Sincerely,
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