Newsom signs state of emergency to support California communities recovering from wildfires
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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state of emergency on Sunday, just days after devastating blazes that tore through large swaths of California.
The state of emergency for the entire state includes five days of mandatory evacuation orders, including for all residents of Los Angeles and nearby cities with high elevation.
Newsom declared the emergency Friday evening as he visited neighborhoods that were badly hurt by wildfires that ripped through Northern California in November, killing nine people in and around Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Newsom’s order came just five days after wildfires raged across Northern California.
In a signing message on Twitter, the governor said, “This has been a historic disaster. Our state needs a moment of collective reflection. A reminder that we come together to restore the lives of the communities we love.”
Newsom on Sunday issued the following statement to the media after signing the order on Sunday morning:
“Just moments ago, I signed Executive Order #21-01, declaring a state of emergency for the entire state of California. We’ve been through a great deal together since last November, including the devastating fires that ravaged communities across our state last month. As we’ve come together as a community to heal from the effects of these devastating fires, we’ve been confronted with the challenges of recovery. Today, I am signing this executive order to bring state resources to make sure our communities have access to the health care, housing, and support they need to rebuild.”
State law requires that state resources are used to meet public health and safety needs, to mitigate the impacts of environmental threats, and to respond to emergencies in counties where the state is responsible for maintaining safety and emergency management.
It is not known if there will be any state resources available to help communities in Santa Barbara County recover from wildfire damage, which has been estimated to be in the millions.
Newsom said he is encouraging people to get more involved with the recovery effort by going to their local fire stations and helping with their emergency planning.
“I know that California is ready for recovery, and we want you to help get our state