Senators Boxer and Feinstein Call for Drought Disaster Assistance

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) wrote to President Obama to request a federal disaster declaration for Fresno County to assist the drought-stricken region in obtaining emergency food, job training, crisis counseling, legal services and unemployment assistance.

The federal assistance would help thousands of Fresno County residents who have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families because of severe drought conditions. A disaster declaration would also help ensure the long-term vitality of one of the nation’s leading agricultural areas.

The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has requested that you declare a major disaster for the State of California in the County of Fresno commencing April 14, 2009, under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), as implemented by Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR) Section 206.36. We write in support of this request.

Three years of below-average precipitation have resulted in inadequate water supplies for much of California. In addition, actions required to protect endangered species have restricted the operations of the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project, further exacerbating shortages. Agricultural communities in the Central Valley have been particularly affected by these conditions. The lack of water has affected 450,000 acres in Fresno County alone, and many more throughout the state.

Fresno County is the leading agricultural county in the nation. The county reports that 3,265 jobs have been lost as a result of the drought and at least 2,200 more are expected to be lost as conditions worsen. Most of these jobs are at the low end of the economic scale – the people who can least afford to lose a job. Unemployment is over 15 percent in Fresno County – and an appalling 39 percent in the city of Mendota. The county is struggling to meet demands at the Community Food Bank, and as described by the mayors of Mendota and San Joaquin in the Sacramento Bee last month, “People wait for hours outside grocery stores, not to buy food but to accept produce that’s thrown out because it is too old to sell.” Reports of domestic violence and drug use are on the rise as people struggle with the stress of lost jobs. To help communities address these challenges, the county anticipates an increasing need for counseling and legal services as unemployment grows.

As a result, Governor Schwarzenegger is pursuing a federal disaster declaration at the request of Fresno County. Specifically, the Governor’s request highlighted the need for Unemployment Assistance, Food Commodities, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training, Legal Services, and any other Stafford Act programs that may be needed by those who have lost employment or income due to the drought. We expect that similar requests may be made for other counties in the near future.

Efforts are underway at the state and federal levels to improve water management in California through increased conservation, recycling, desalination, habitat restoration, water transfers, drought water banking, and new infrastructure. However, these efforts will not address the immediate needs of the agricultural communities suffering from this drought, and federal assistance is greatly needed right now.

California agriculture is important to the economy and food supply of the entire nation. We are deeply concerned about the impacts of this drought on our constituents, and respectfully request that you provide federal assistance to sustain them through these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

CC: Ms. Nancy Ward
Regional Administrator, Region IX, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Source: Senator Barbara Boxer