Biden says feds will cover 100% of fire response costs in Southern California
Source: CBS News
Updated on: January 9, 2025 / 8:39 PM EST
Washington — President Biden announced Thursday that for the next six months, the federal government will pay for 100% of the disaster response costs from the wildfires destroying neighborhoods across the greater Los Angeles area. The president also said he'll be asking Congress for more funding to help.
Speaking from the White House during a briefing on the fires, the president said federal funding will cover things like removing debris, setting up temporary shelters, and paying first responders. Mr. Biden said he's surging all federal resources possible to Southern California, including 400 federal firefighters and 30 federal firefighting planes, among other assets. "I told the governor and local officials, spare no expense," Mr. Biden said, calling the damage "catastrophic."
The 100% disaster response coverage from the federal government for the next 180 days is an increase from the current 75% the president previously allotted, and more than the 90% Mr. Biden said California Gov. Gavin Newsom requested. The damage is expected to be one of the most expensive disasters in California history.
Three fires are still raging, the president said, and 179,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes. Congress may need to pass supplemental funding to buoy rebuilding efforts, and the president urged Congress to "step up." "I'm going to make an appeal right now to the United States Congress," he said.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfires-biden-los-angeles/
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Prior to the fire over 1600 homes in Palisades had lost their home owners insurance. So the only thing the home owners can do is either borrow money to rebuild or simply sell the land to help pay down the mortgage and file for personal bankruptcy.
He had Farmer's home insurance.
They did not renew his policy so now he has none as no one else will insure him now. 
The option is https://www.cfpnet.com/ ----> The California FAIR plan property insurance.
It costs a bundle, I know that much.
I have AAA myself. It went up by 10% this year as it has inflation protection built into the policy. I live in a small house and there have never been any fires where I am located luckily. Fires were the furthest thing from my mind when I got this house in 2001. Being I am under proposition 13, I've never considered selling out and moving as I have nowhere to go really. I am truly grateful for my little house. It is nothing fancy but it works for me and my one cat. Yes, just one cat now as my other two died rather recently.
I live in an area that is very low for fire risk.
You can check for other areas in California via this link: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/03beab8511814e79a0e4eabf0d3e7247/
I feel for my fellow Californians that are facing these problems due to climate change. Raking the yard won't help when you have fires raging, some of which seem to be due to the work on an arsonist.
I've had to file claims.
Premiums are up regardless is how I see it.
I know of businesses having to close as they were canceled.
Coverage with the FAIR thing sounds like a last resort.
