Reps. Panetta, Lofgren Applaud Additional Disaster Relief for Monterey County

Monterey, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) applauded additional federal disaster relief approved for Monterey County. The approval of this new assistance follows a letter the lawmakers wrote to President Joe Biden asking that he grant Monterey County's request for additional disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

On January 17, President Biden amended his Major Disaster Declaration for the state of California to include Monterey County. That designation allowed FEMA support for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and individual assistance, covered under the assistance categories A and B. Monterey County and the members requested additional assistance under categories C through G to cover permanent repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks and recreation, which has since been approved.

"The severe winter storms have caused significant, widespread destruction to our public infrastructure throughout Monterey County," said Rep. Panetta. "The approval of this additional federal assistance is critical to not only repairing this significant damage but rebuilding to better withstand future severe weather events. I thank the Biden Administration for their swift approval of our request and continued presence in our communities as we work to recover and return to normalcy."

"I thank the Biden Administration for working closely and expeditiously with our local governments and the State of California as we continue to recover from the recent devastating storms," said Rep. Lofgren. "The President's latest amendment to the federal major disaster declaration will build upon prior emergency response and individual assistance for Monterey County and help repair the millions of dollars in damages the storms caused to roads, water facilities, and other public infrastructure that residents rely on every day. I am committed to ensuring that all our local communities receive every last cent of federal funding available to fully recover from the recent storms."

At this time, Monterey County estimates at least $40 million in damages to public infrastructure, including $20 million that will require permanent repairs. The county's preliminary repair cost estimates for several specific public infrastructure assets, include, but are not limited to, an estimated $3.5 million for stabilization of the Nacimiento Plunge Pool Slope, $3 million to repair the Scenic Road slip out, $2.5 million for Nacimiento Reservoir repairs, $1.5 million Salinas River Lagoon Levee access road repairs, and $1 million each for repairs for Hartnell Road and the Nacimiento Hydro-plant access road.

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