President Declares Major Disaster for California 

Release Date: June 6, 2006
Release Number: HQ-06-090

» More Information on California Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for California to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides during the period of March 29 to April 16, 2006.

Acting FEMA Director R. David Paulison said federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. Counties covered by the declaration include Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lake, Madera, Marin, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Placer, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Paulison named Michael H. Smith as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Smith said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 06-Jun-2006 08:39:00