After initially being left off the list for federal aid for regions impacted by the recent storms, Fresno County is now eligible to receive aid.
The update comes just days after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R–Bakersfield) urged President Joe Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to discuss Fresno County’s inclusion in aid provided from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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The backstory: Only 17 California counties made the initial list from FEMA to provide federal disaster assistance to the emergency conditions, including flooding and mudslides, as approved by Biden.
- After FEMA’s list was revealed, Fresno County declared a state of emergency, leading McCarthy to press Biden and Newsom for help in the Central Valley.
State of play: Following McCarthy’s request, FEMA added Fresno County and Tulare County, along with others, to the list of counties eligible to receive emergency federal aid on Thursday.
- The IRS also stepped in with its own relief, extending the tax filing deadline for all areas covered under Biden’s emergency declaration to May 15.
What they’re saying: “I am pleased to see that Governor Newsom and President Biden included Fresno and Tulare counties in the Federal Emergency Declaration for California counties impacted by the storms,” McCarthy wrote in a statement. “This will help ensure that both counties have access to additional resources to respond to emergencies in real-time.”
