Newsom signs state of emergency to support California communities recovering from wildfires
In this Sept. 9, 2016 photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown, left, listens at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., as Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, listens during the second day of a statewide listening session for California wildfire evacuees in Sacramento. Brown called the fires an “unprecedented situation,” and Newsom announced Friday, June 30, 2017, that the state has declared a state of emergency to aid affected communities. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
In this Sept. 9, 2016 photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown, left, listens at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., as Gov. Gavin Newsom, center, listens during the second day of a statewide listening session for California wildfire evacuees in Sacramento. Brown called the fires an “unprecedented situation,” and Newsom announced Friday, June 30, 2017, that the state has declared a state of emergency to aid affected communities. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown announced Friday that the state of emergency has been declared to aid communities recovering from the wildfires that consumed much of Northern California in recent days.
“Today’s decision was the culmination of weeks of hard work to build an emergency response system that is both transparent and efficient,” said Brown.
“It is the first step in what is sure to be a complex journey to restore our communities and restore the lives of our citizens.”
The order was signed by Newsom, the Democratic governor who is running to replace Brown as California’s chief executive.
A separate order was also signed by Brown on Friday to suspend the state’s contribution to an already underfunded and insufficient relief fund for wildfire victims.
Newsom’s order followed a news conference with his cabinet in Sacramento, where the governor announced a plan to spend as much as $2.8 billion in the coming year in addition to the millions already invested by the state and local governments. Brown said he’s asked the state’s emergency fund directors to “invest aggressively to prepare for the worst.”
“Californians have been through more than enough trauma already, and they deserve to feel the rest of the country’s support.”
The order will now go to Brown