U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced last week two bills to address the government’s wildfire response and equitable distribution of natural disaster resources.
The FIRE Act would revise the Stafford Act governing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring the agency’s disaster preparedness and response initiatives address the unique nature of wildfires and their impacts on communities.
Additionally, the Disaster Equity and Fairness Act ensures FEMA’s disaster preparedness and response endeavors target the needs of underserved communities, emergency food and water needs following a disaster, and how consecutive disasters impact communities.
“By updating the Stafford Act to ensure it takes into account the unique challenges and effects of wildfire and guaranteeing FEMA is able to quickly and effectively help communities devastated by wildfires, these two bills will help the federal government better respond to all natural disasters,” Feinstein said. “We’re going to see more catastrophic wildfires, there’s no question of that. The federal government’s response to these disasters and assistance to affected communities is critical now and in the years to come.”
Padilla said the climate crisis is a daily reality for California communities statewide.
“Extreme weather events and natural disasters, especially wildfires, are the new normal, and they threaten our homes, businesses, and livelihoods year in and year out,” Padilla said. “I’ve seen the very real human and economic costs of these disasters throughout our state, and it is clear that we need to change our approach.”