MATSUI URGES FEMA TO EXPEDITE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY STORMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, urging her to expedite additional emergency assistance to those affected by the recent heavy storms.
“As a representative of the affected area, including Sacramento and Yolo Counties, I urge you to stand up emergency housing assistance for individuals in the affected areas as soon as possible,” wrote Congresswoman Matsui.
Just in the month of January alone, the Sacramento region has recorded over 4.5 inches of rain, with wind gusts reaching speeds over 65 miles per hour. The consequences have been far reaching, including the loss of multiple lives in the region. Power outages, fallen trees, and property damage continue to provide significant challenges as more storms sweep through the region.
Under the recent emergency declaration, Governor Newsom and President Biden have worked together to quickly mobilize critical resources. Congresswoman Matsui is now calling upon FEMA to consider the unique effects of the storm on the region and adapt individual housing assistance to fit the community’s needs.
“Unlike traditional emergency housing assistance that effects a more predictable population, the need for housing assistance in this circumstance arises quickly and in devastating fashion,” Matsui continued. “As such, I respectfully ask that you instruct agency staff to expedite support for individual assistance and increase staff resources to the affected areas.”
The letter also highlights the need to repair and strengthen levees damaged in the storms, particularly those along the Cosumnes River. Matsui has long fought to bring billions of federal dollars to enhance the Sacramento region’s flood protection infrastructure.
The full letter is available HEREand below.
Dear Administrator Criswell:
On January 9th President Biden declared a state of emergency to address the continuing severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides in the State of California. Under this emergency declaration the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is able to provide Category B emergency protective measures to the affected area including disaster housing assistance to individuals and households. As a representative of the affected area, including Sacramento and Yolo Counties, I urge you to stand up emergency housing assistance for individuals in the affected areas as soon as possible.
As storms continue to bring heavy rain and high winds to the Sacramento region, we have suffered property damage, power outages and sadly, loss of life from flooding and falling trees. Tree roots have been loosened by saturated ground and are being toppled by high winds severely damaging and destroying homes. Unlike traditional emergency housing assistance that effects a more predictable population, the need for housing assistance in this circumstance arises quickly and in devastating fashion. As such, I respectfully ask that you instruct agency staff to expedite support for individual assistance and increase staff resources to the affected areas.
The Sacramento region has long prepared for the effects of flooding and is working with the California Office of Emergency Management and FEMA to provide shelter for evacuated areas such as the town of Wilton. While the greater Sacramento area flood control network is working as designed, we have seen levee breaches, overtopping, and erosion along the Cosumnes River in Sacramento County. As we begin to recover from these storms, it is imperative that we take a strategic and systems-wide approach to our infrastructure improvements.
As a representative of the capital region, I applaud the quick action of Governor Newsom and President Biden to get the emergency declaration in place and mobilize federal resources to address this ongoing crisis. I look forward to working with FEMA, state, and local agencies to find the best repair and hazard mitigation options for our region.
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