US President Joe Biden speaks during an event to announce that his Administration has approved $1.2 billion in student debt cancellation for almost 153,000 borrowers at the Julian Dixon Library in Culver City, California, on February 21, 2024. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)
US President Joe Biden has announced a $770 one-time payment for victims of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, as the state grapples with one of the worst fire outbreaks in its history.
Biden made the announcement on Monday, stating that the federal government is committed to providing immediate assistance to those affected by the disaster. “I want to be clear: we are not waiting until the fires are over to help victims. We are helping them all right now,” he said.
The wildfires, which have claimed 29 lives, have left thousands of residents displaced and caused unprecedented damage. Nearly 6,000 survivors have already received payments, amounting to $5.1 million in distributed aid. These funds are intended to help victims purchase essential items such as water, baby formula, and medications.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reported that about 33,000 residents have registered for disaster assistance, while the government has committed to covering 100% of fire-related costs, including disaster response efforts, for the next six months.
According to AccuWeather, the total damage and economic losses from the wildfires are estimated to be between $250 billion and $275 billion. This figure surpasses the damage caused by the 2020 wildfire season and recent disasters, such as Hurricane Helene in 2024 and the Maui wildfires in 2023.
In a briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and emergency officials, Biden emphasized the need for Congressional support to secure additional funding for recovery efforts. “It’s going to cost tens of billions of dollars to get Los Angeles to what it was,” he said.
