Harder Announces San Joaquin County Now Included in Federal Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) announced that San Joaquin County has been added to the Federal Emergency Declaration in response to the severe rain and flooding across California. Over the last twenty-four hours, Rep. Harder has been pushing both state and federal officials to add San Joaquin County to the Federal Emergency Declaration after it was left off of the initial list of counties eligible for federal assistance.

“I’m proud we were able to talk some sense into Washington and Sacramento,” said Rep. Harder. “San Joaquin County needs support, and now federal resources are finally heading our way. I’ll keep fighting to ensure we get as much help as we need to recover and rebuild from this brutal weather.”

After the change described above, San Joaquin County is now eligible for Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Category B measures which include:

• Flood fighting;
• Evacuation and sheltering;
• Medical care and transportation;
• Use and lease of temporary power generators;
• Elimination of threats on public or private property (trees, power lines, water, etc.)
• Construction of temporary structures (sandbags, levees, roadways, etc.);
• Emergency repairs to prevent further damage (i.e. covering damaged roofs to prevent infiltration of rainwater);
• Extracting and clearing water, mud, and other forms of debris.

California’s Central Valley Flood Protection Plan states that Stockton and San Joaquin County are currently more at risk for flooding disaster than New Orleans was during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. According to First Street’s 3^rd Annual Risk Assessment, 92% of properties and 97% of commercial buildings in the City of Stockton are at risk during a flood.

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