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Pelosi Statement on President’s Declaration of Southern California as Major Federal Disaster Area

October 24, 2007

Pelosi Statement on President’s Declaration of Southern California as Major Federal Disaster Area

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today about President Bush signing a declaration that the wildfires in Southern California have created a major federal disaster area:

"The thoughts and prayers of our entire nation today are with California: with the firefighters risking life and limb to protect others, and with the many who have lost so much.

"California’s Office of Emergency Services is one of the best in the nation and I commend them for their continued efforts to act quickly to protect the people in the area and contain the fires.

"I am pleased that President Bush today signed the request of the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, supported by the California congressional delegation, declaring a major federal disaster in Southern California. I pledge to the residents of the counties affected that the Congress will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to make sure their short-term and long-term needs are met. I urge displaced residents to contact FEMA to apply for the federal individual assistance that has been made available for temporary housing or to replace belongings.

"As the President prepares to visit the area tomorrow and view the extensive damage, Congress commits to working with him to provide necessary federal resources to contain the fires, provide for the safety of the people, and help them rebuild their homes and their lives."