California Construction News staff writer
With recovery efforts already underway, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation providing $2.5 billion in disaster relief, a move he says will jumpstart recovery efforts.
The special session legislation provides funding to expedite firestorm response and recovery efforts, streamline rebuilding efforts, and help rebuild fire-damaged school facilities.
“California leaders from both political parties are united and working together to provide L.A. with the immediate assistance and support they need,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. “Today, we approved billions of dollars to help clean-up devastated neighborhoods, rebuild schools and put communities on a path to recovery. I thank the Governor, Pro Tem and my colleagues for moving with urgency. This is a first step, but we are committed to a full recovery and will stand with Angelenos until this work is done.”
Here’s what is included:
- $4 million to help expedite rebuilding. The Department of Housing and Community Development will allocate this funding to impacted local governments to provide additional planning review and building inspection resources for the purpose of expediting building approvals during the recovery period.
- $1 million to rebuild fire-damaged school facilities. The funding will provide technical assistance to impacted local educational agencies (Los Angeles Unified School District, Pasadena Unified School District, impacted charter schools).
- $2.5 billion to expedite initial firestorm response and recovery efforts. This includes support for emergency protective measures, evacuations, sheltering for survivors, debris removal and cleanup, post-fire hazard assessments (such as flash flooding and debris flows), traffic control, and other necessary emergency response activities.
In other news, the governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase victims’ property.
Visit CA.gov/LAfires for information and resources from state, local and federal government.