Biden Administration Announces One-Time $770 Payments To California Wildfire Victims

President Biden announced a one-time payment of $770 for victims of the ongoing California wildfires on Monday.

What Happened: The announcement came during a wildfire briefing at the White House on Monday. The President emphasized that the federal support is not waiting for the fires to end, but is being provided immediately, reported The Hill.

“We’re getting them help right now, as you all know. People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770, one-time payment, so they quickly purchase things like water, baby formula and prescription,” said Biden.

According to the President, nearly 6,000 survivors have already registered for the program, and $5.1 million has been disbursed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency activated its Critical Needs Assistance Program last week, which facilitated the initial one-time payment.

Biden also provided updates on the containment of the wildfires, reporting 14% containment in Pacific Palisades, 33% in Pasadena, and 100% in Ventura. He confirmed last week that the federal government will cover 100% of the costs of California’s efforts to fight the wildfires for 180 days, extending into the upcoming administration of President-elect Trump.

The announcement comes amidst public disagreements between President-elect Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the handling of the fires. Newsom has expressed concerns that the incoming administration could withhold disaster aid to California.

See Also: Joe Biden’s Approval Rating Hits 37% Ahead Of White House Exit, Poll Finds President Made Progress In 1 Of 18 Areas

Why It Matters: The wildfires in California have been a major cause of concern, with the National Weather Service issuing severe fire warnings for Los Angeles County. The fires have resulted in at least 24 deaths and damage to over 12,000 structures, with the total damage and economic loss estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.

Furthermore, the Los Angeles area has been bracing for more “extreme fire weather” with high winds of 40 to 70 miles per hour, making the containment of the wildfires even more challenging. The Eaton Fire and the Palisades Fire were reported to be at 35% and 17% containment respectively, as of Tuesday morning.

Image via Shutterstock

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal