President Joe Biden said after touring California storm damage by air and on foot Thursday that the federal government is committed to helping the state recover from mudslides, flooding and other impacts. At least 21 deaths have been attributed to the series of storms over 22 days.“The country is here for you and with you,” Biden said in a message to Californians. “We are not leaving until things are built back and built back better than they were before.” Biden addressed reporters Thursday afternoon from Aptos at Seacliff State Park after several hours of touring the damage in Santa Cruz County, first by air in Marine One then later on the ground in Capitola.“You don’t feel it until you walk the streets,” he said. Biden landed at Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County on Air Force One just before noon, ahead of schedule. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla then joined Biden and FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell on Marine One for the tour. | VIDEO BELOW | Biden walks out of Air Force One to tour storm damage in CaliforniaBiden said he told Newsom the federal government would do whatever is necessary for the recovery and cited his signing of a major disaster declaration and more than 500 FEMA employees on the ground. | VIDEO BELOW | California Gov. Newsom speaks after touring storm damage with President BidenResidents in San Joaquin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties are now able to apply for federal disaster assistance. California emergency management officials have said more counties could be approved for the major disaster declaration as damage is assessed.| RELATED | Click here to find information about applying for federal disaster assistance or call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA app.“The federal government is not leaving its responsibility until it’s all fixed, done,” Biden said.| VIDEO BELOW | ‘There’s no there there’: President Biden dismisses criticism over handing of classified documents
President Joe Biden said after touring California storm damage by air and on foot Thursday that the federal government is committed to helping the state recover from mudslides, flooding and other impacts.
At least 21 deaths have been attributed to the series of storms over 22 days.
“The country is here for you and with you,” Biden said in a message to Californians. “We are not leaving until things are built back and built back better than they were before.”
Biden addressed reporters Thursday afternoon from Aptos at Seacliff State Park after several hours of touring the damage in Santa Cruz County, first by air in Marine One then later on the ground in Capitola.
“You don’t feel it until you walk the streets,” he said.
Biden landed at Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County on Air Force One just before noon, ahead of schedule. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla then joined Biden and FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell on Marine One for the tour.
| VIDEO BELOW | Biden walks out of Air Force One to tour storm damage in California
Biden said he told Newsom the federal government would do whatever is necessary for the recovery and cited his signing of a major disaster declaration and more than 500 FEMA employees on the ground.
| VIDEO BELOW | California Gov. Newsom speaks after touring storm damage with President Biden
Residents in San Joaquin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties are now able to apply for federal disaster assistance. California emergency management officials have said more counties could be approved for the major disaster declaration as damage is assessed.
| RELATED | Click here to find information about applying for federal disaster assistance or call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA app.
“The federal government is not leaving its responsibility until it’s all fixed, done,” Biden said.
| VIDEO BELOW | ‘There’s no there there’: President Biden dismisses criticism over handing of classified documents
