Biden announces $770 federal aid for California wildfire victims

As California faces one of the most devastating wildfire outbreaks in its history, United States President Joe Biden has stepped forward to provide relief to affected residents.

On Monday, Biden announced a federal aid package that includes a one-time payment of $770 for victims of the disaster, bringing hope to those impacted by the crisis.

The wildfires, currently ravaging Los Angeles County, have claimed 29 lives, leaving communities in despair and intensifying concerns across the nation.

The announcement comes as Biden’s tenure in the White House approaches its conclusion, highlighting his commitment to addressing national emergencies during his final days in office.

The aid package aims to support victims as they begin the difficult journey of recovery. The wildfires, which have left a trail of destruction in their wake, have sparked nationwide conversations about climate change and disaster preparedness.

According to Hollywood Unlocked, the situation has become a growing concern for Americans, with many calling for more robust measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

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However, Biden, in a meeting, vowed to offer a one-time payment of $770 to the victims of the deadly Los Angeles County fires and that the government would be covering 100% of the disaster response costs for the next six months.

He said, “I want to be clear: we are not waiting until the fires are over to help victims. We are helping them all right now. People impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770. So they can quickly purchase things like water, baby formula, and prescriptions. So far, nearly 6,000 survivors have registered to do just that, and $5.1 million has gone out.”

For those who the Los Angeles County fires have impacted, President Joe Biden said victims can visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. As mentioned, the federal government will be covering all fire-related and firefighting costs for the next 180 days.

Nearly $5.1 million in immediate aid has already been distributed, with victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles being given a one-time payment of $770.

Additionally, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has reported that about 33,000 residents have already registered for disaster assistance.

In a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials, Biden stressed, “It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles to what it was. We are going to need Congress to step up with the funding.”

According to AccuWeather, the total damage and economic loss from the fires is now estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter claims the preliminary estimate has surpassed the total damage and loss accrued during the 2020 wildfire season.

The damage and economic loss has also surpassed Hurricane Helene in 2024, which cost between $225 billion to $250 billion, and has surpassed the deadly Maui, Hawaii fires in 2023, which cost an estimated $13 billion to $16 billion.