"I'm asking Congress to have the back of the American people and provide disaster funding to help Californians recover and rebuild as soon as possible," Newsom wrote in a post on X.
The Eaton and Palisades fires started on Jan. 7 during a "life-threatening" Santa Ana storm with 100 mph gusts. The howling winds hampered firefighting efforts throughout Southern California, grounding all water and retardant-dropping aircraft until weather conditions improved. With flames raging out of control, crews could not stop embers from spreading to homes.
Gavin Newsom, governor of California, speaks during a news conference with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Altadena, California, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. BloombergInsurance giant State Farm said it received more than 8,700 claims totaling $1 billion by Feb. 1. Describing its financial situation as "dire," State Farm requested the California Department of Insurance allow an emergency rate increase for homeowners as high as 22%.
The disasters leveled entire communities in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena were leveled during the disasters. A UCLA study estimated that they caused as much as $164 billion in losses.
Chu also invited President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson to visit the Eaton Fire. President Trump visited the Pacific Palisades in late January to survey the damage.
Ahead of his Palisades visit, Mr. Trump threatened to withhold aid during an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity. The president also said he doesn't think the federal government should give California "anything" until it sends more water down to the southern part of the state.
Following the disastrous fires, LA leaders announced a two-phase rebuilding plan led by Chief Recovery Officer Steve Soboroff. The Environmental Protection Agency started Phase 1 with a $100 million hazardous material cleanup involving more than 500 personnel. By February, the Army Corps of Engineers began Phase 2 of debris removal. They believe they will finish by January 2026.
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