Panetta, Lofgren, Eshoo, and Khanna Urge Major Disaster Declaration for Santa Clara County
Monterey, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16), and Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) wrote to President Joe Biden to request that relief for Santa Clara County be included in the Presidential Major Declaration for the State of California. President Biden has previously approved California Governor Gavin Newsom's disaster declaration request, including public and individual support for Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties. During President Biden's visit to the Central Coast today, Rep. Panetta reiterated his support for this action.
Santa Clara County has experienced more than $27 million in total damages from the storms, including $17 million in damages to public infrastructure in San Jose alone. Valley Water, the local water district, has suffered $1.65 million in damages. So far, 16 properties in the county are damaged. County operated roads and airports have sustained at least $6.7 million in damages, which is severely impacting access and emergency response capacities to several rural areas within Santa Clara County.
"As our local governments and agencies work to save lives and protect property, they need further assistance from the federal government. Likewise, displaced families need assistance with housing, disaster-related expenses, hazard mitigation, and other essential Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) services," the members wrote. "Amending your recent disaster declaration to include Santa Clara County would enable our constituents to access this much-needed federal assistance and put our communities on a faster path to recovery."
The Presidential Disaster Declaration triggers the release of Federal funds to help individuals and communities recover from the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred December 27, 2022 and continue. Such funds will be coordinated through the Federal Emergency Disaster Administration (FEMA) and can be used for assistance to individuals and households, emergency work and the repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities, debris removal and emergency protective measures, mitigation to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards.
Read the full letter here and below.
Dear President Biden:
We write to request that you include relief for Santa Clara County in your recently declared Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the State of California in response to recent winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. We thank you for your recent approval of California Governor Gavin Newsom's disaster declaration request, including public and individual support for Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties. However, Santa Clara County has also experienced major destruction of property and public infrastructure that necessitates federal support, to include public and individual assistance, as well as hazard mitigation assistance.
Santa Clara County has experienced more than $27 million in total damages from the storms, including $17 million in damages to public infrastructure in San Jose alone. Valley Water, the local water district, has suffered $1.65 million in damages. So far, 16 properties in the county are damaged. County operated roads and airports have sustained at least $6.7 million in damages, which is severely impacting access and emergency response capacities to several rural areas within Santa Clara County.
Mines Road, a key access road for residents living in the San Antonio Valley, is completely washed out in two areas, forcing it to remain closed. With this road impassable, some residents are forced to take a detour of over an hour to get in and out of the area. San Antonio Road itself has significant damage as well, exacerbating the impacts of the Mines Road closure. Bear Creek Road in the county remains completely closed due to a sinkhole in the middle of the road and two other washouts. These closures and road impacts not only impact commutes, but also impact emergency response times for those communities and increase the length of hospital trips.
As our local governments and agencies work to save lives and protect property, they need further assistance from the federal government. Likewise, displaced families need assistance with housing, disaster-related expenses, hazard mitigation, and other essential Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) services.
Amending your recent disaster declaration to include Santa Clara County would enable our constituents to access this much-needed federal assistance and put our communities on a faster path to recovery.
Thank you for your continued attention and support of our constituents during these ongoing storms.
Sincerely,
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