Building on efforts to help streamline the recovery in communities impacted by California鈥檚 devastating wildfires, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an executive order allowing the federal government to help with the initial removal of hazardous waste that poses an imminent threat to public health and safety.
The executive order allows qualified professionals at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assist state and local officials in immediately removing visible hazardous debris such as batteries, flammable liquids, asbestos siding, paint and pipe insulation from burned homes. Initial removal of these hazards helps protect public health and the environment and allows residents and cleanup crews to more safely enter properties and continue the long-term recovery efforts.
Last week, Governor Brown declared a state of emergency for the counties of聽Solano,聽Napa, Sonoma, Yuba,聽Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada and Orange due to the impacts of numerous wildfires, and this week issued an executive order to cut red tape and help聽streamline recovery efforts. The Governor has also聽secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support the state and local response to the fires, within 24 hours of making聽the request, and federal direct aid for residents of聽Napa, Sonoma,聽Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Yuba,聽Orange and Nevada聽counties who have suffered losses due to the fires. Workers in these counties who have lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as a result of the fires are also now eligible for federal聽Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
Last week, Governor Brown聽traveled to areas impacted by the fires with U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and joined the state鈥檚 top emergency management officials for a聽briefing at the State Operations Center in Mather, and this week聽met with the FEMA administrator聽to discuss ongoing wildfire response and recovery efforts and聽visited firefighters and first responders in Orange County.
To read the full story, visit .