Hilary Damage In RivCo: Every Federal Lawmaker In CA Pushes Biden

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As the Coachella Valley and other parts of California continue recovering from damage caused by Tropical Storm Hilary, the state's entire delegation of U.S. lawmakers signed a letter Tuesday calling on the Biden Administration to send federal disaster assistance.

Representatives Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), along with U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif.), led the effort. Calvert's district includes much of the Coachella Valley where the majority of storm damage occurred and the impacts are ongoing.

“Residents, small businesses, and farmers throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond continue to recover from Tropical Storm Hilary and are in need of federal disaster assistance,” Calvert said. “My colleagues and I are hopeful that the Biden Administration will act quickly on California’s disaster declaration request so that federal resources are made available to those in need. I appreciate the support of all of my colleagues throughout California in this effort.”

Riverside County estimated last month that its storm damage would exceed $125 million.

All 52 California members of the U.S. House Representatives, along with the state's two U.S. Senators, signed the Sept. 19 letter addressed to President Joe Biden.

"We write in support of the State of California's request for a major disaster declaration in response to the impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary that began on August 19, 2023," the letter began. "Tropical Storm Hilary was the first tropical storm to strike California since 1939 and it brought severe and unseasonal precipitation and high winds, as well as river and urban flooding in many areas of our state. The heavy precipitation caused dangerous debris flows that threatened lives, businesses and critical public infrastructure such as roads and waterways."

While the state "marshaled all available resources" to respond to the storm, additional federal resources are needed, the letter reads.

In addition to Riverside County, Tropical Storm Hilary also prompted local emergencies in Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, Siskiyou and Ventura counties. Gov. Gavin Newsom has sent a request to President Biden for a major disaster declaration that would apply to all of the affected counties.