FEMA chief says 33,000 people impacted by fires have filed for federal assistance as of Monday evening.
President Biden said the federal government will provide one-time payments of $770 to people impacted by the ongoing California wildfires, so they can pay for essentials like baby formula, prescriptions, clothes and food.
Biden made the announcement Thursday evening during a briefing from the Oval Office on the situation in Southern California. According to the president, nearly 6,000 people had been approved to receive the payments thus far, leading to a total of $5.1 million that has already gone out through this program.
“We’re not waiting until those fires are over to start helping the victims. We’re getting them help right now,” Biden said from the Oval Office.