Just hours after denying California help to mitigate the consequences of the wildfires that
devastated nearly 2 million acres
in September
, destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and killed at least three people
, President Donald Trump appealed his decision. and approved the state's request to declare a major disaster emergency.
Trump approved Governor Gavin Newsom's request on Friday, after the second appealed the denial of his Administration.
"I just got off the phone with @realdDonaldTrump who has approved our request for a Major Disaster Declaration. Grateful for your prompt response," Newsom wrote on Twitter this afternoon.
The governor had already said Thursday that the state would challenge the president's refusal.
Newsom formally submitted a letter to the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Sept. 28 calling for a major disaster declaration.
This statement allows
the cost of damage, cleanup, and reconstruction
to be
shared between the state and federal governments.
It also activates aid programs run by FEMA.
California did not request a specific dollar amount because damage estimates are not complete.
Although, according to Ferguson, such aid could easily reach hundreds of millions of dollars (229 million, according to CNN).
California experiences worst fires in its history and breaks record for burned acres
Oct. 4, 202000: 27
Disasters include the
Bobcat
Fire
in Los Angeles County;
the
El Dorado
fire
in San Bernardino County;
and the
Creek
Fire
, one of the largest still burning in Fresno and Madera counties.
The other three wildfires featured on the application were
Valley
, San Diego County;
the
Oak
, in Mendocino County;
and the
Slater
, in Siskiyou County.
During a visit to the state last month, the president denied the effects of climate change on the fires, despite scientific studies showing that it has caused the state to be drier, making its vegetation more flammable.