Plenty of California disaster declarations
South Lake Tahoe fire crews this month get rid of ice and water on city streets. Photo/SLTFD
By Jim Miller, Sacramento Bee
This year’s heavy rains and the ongoing crisis at Oroville Dam recently prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to do what he and his predecessors have done many times before: ask for federal help.
Once approved, presidential declarations – the most common is a major disaster – open the door to assistance from a range of federal programs, such as money to fix roads or help with living expenses for people thrown out of work.
California knows the programs well.