President Biden Visits Devastated Areas of California

Posted on January 19, 2023
FILE – President Joe Biden waves before boarding Air Force One at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Del., Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, en route to Atlanta. The president will visit California on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, to tour storm damage. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

SANTA CLARA, CA (KMJ) – President Joe Biden flew into California on Thursday, to tour communities damaged by recent storms.

They were joined by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell on Marine One to visit Santa Cruz County, and tour storm damage along the California Cast.

President Joe Biden greets Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, after arriving on Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View, Calif., Thursday, Jan 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Biden’s plane arrived just before noon and ahead of schedule, at Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County.

Biden’s itinerary included visits to the Capitola Pier in Capitola and Seacliff State Beach.

President Joe Biden returns a salute as he boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, en route to California. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

The president’s trip was announced as the ninth atmospheric river over 20 days was blowing through California.

Jesus Torres carries belongings from his flooded Merced, Calif., home on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

President Biden was meeting with business owners and residents who have been affected by the destructive storms.

20 people died in California from the storm related deaths.

FILE – A bulldozer moves debris as a vehicle sits stranded in flooded water on U.S. Highway 101 in Montecito, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018. Experts say California has learned important lessons from the Montecito tragedy, and the state has more tools to pinpoint the hot spots and more basins and nets are in place to capture the falling debris before it hits homes. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

President Biden approved a FEMA major disaster declaration on Monday for residents in Santa Cruz, Merced, and Sacramento Counties.

On Wednesday, he added Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties.

On Thursday, San Joaquin County was added to the list.

President Biden surveyed damage in Santa Cruz County from the plane.

After his visit to Capitola, President Biden would deliver remarks on disaster recovery at 3:00pm. Thursday. in Aptos at Seacliff State Park.

President Biden was expected to leave the Santa Cruz County by 4 p.m. Thursday

President Biden authorized additional disaster assistance for California, which allows the Federal government to cover 100% of the cost for debris removal and emergency protective measures for 60 days.

-The White House