In the midst of the shutdown , President Donald trump has threatened to deny financial assistance, which is allocated to the fight against forest fires, California. About his decision, the President of the United States said on January 9 in its Twitter.
Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen. Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a most disgraceful situation in lives & money!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 9, 2019
«Billions of dollars sent to California to fight forest fires that with proper forest management would never have happened. If they do not learn to work together, which is unlikely, I will order FEMA not to send them money. This is a shameful situation, measured in human lives and money!»
The Washington Post sent a request for review to representatives of the Federal Agency for emergency management (Federal Emergency Management Agency — FEMA), but specific responses are not received. The Agency said only that «due to any interruption in Federal funding we are unable to respond to General questions of the press.» The white house also left the question of journalists without explanation.
It remains unclear whether the President to cancel already approved the funding for FEMA.
In November 2018, after the devastating fires that swept through California, Donald trump, issued a decree of emergency in the counties of Ventura, Los Angeles and Butte. Federal funding is beginning to be allocated in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Stafford act (the basic Federal law of the United States, developed by the Robert T. Stafford aimed at aiding victims of natural disasters and emergencies is focused on the post-crisis period).
Since, according to FEMA, 6646 people have sought individual assistance. The last day that affected residents can register for Federal assistance — January 31, 2019 is not Yet known whether the threat of a trump to stop funding FEMA for those who have just applied on the website or waiting for individual financial assistance (such money is allocated not so fast compared to those that are sent to the States for the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by natural disaster).
For the affected inhabitants of the counties of Ventura, Los Angeles and Butte, the government allocated Federal funds for individual assistance in the amount of $ 48,780,241.37, of which $31,841,910.63 — assistance for housing (search for temporary housing, repairing), $16,938,330.74 – for other needs (the purchase of new furniture, clothes, food, etc.).
The threat trump reacted emotionally many of California’s legislators. The newly elected Governor of California Gavin Newsom said that he was «just yesterday» sent a letter asking the Federal government on joint cooperation «in fighting these unprecedented fires. Voters have appointed us that we achieve our goals and not played games with people’s lives.»
Democratic Senator Kamala D. Harris wrote: «Californians have survived the deadliest fire in the history of our state last year. We need to work together to reduce these fires, fighting climate change, not to play politics by threatening to withhold money from those who survived the deadly result of a natural disaster».
Not only the Democrats in California do not agree with such cruel intent trump, but also some Republicans. So, Congressman Doug Church issued a press release in response to a tweet by the President. He said that «the threat of funding FEMA is useless and will not solve long-term problems of regulation of forestry.»
