SAN FRANCISCO - Gov. Jerry Brown requested a Presidential disaster declaration for California's Napa Valley and issued an executive order to provide financial assistance to the region following the Aug. 24 earthquake there.
Such a declaration would trigger the release of federal funds to help communities recover from the earthquake. Brown's executive order provides additional financial assistance to local agencies and non-profit organizations. It also ensures residents can replace important documents and key services without shouldering additional costs.
"I request that you declare a major disaster for the State of California as a result of the South Napa Earthquake that affected Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties," Brown wrote in a letter sent to the White House on Sept. 2. "Economic impacts of this event will be extensive. The earthquake caused significant damage throughout the region."
Brown declared a state of emergency shortly after the 6.0 magnitude temblor struck in the early morning darkness on Aug. 24.
As of Aug. 26, approximately 123 buildings were red-tagged, rendering them uninhabitable, and 500 buildings were yellow-tagged, meaning that only limited access was permitted. The city's initial gross estimate of damage to privately-owned structures—both homes and commercial properties—is around $300 million.
Napa County generates an estimated $25 billion annually to California's economy, according to a recent statement from Senator Lois Wolk, D-Davis, who represents the areas affected by the earthquake.
She noted preliminary reports of damage to the wine industry of around $1 billion or more.
"As the cities of Napa and Vallejo complete their damage assessments and move toward the recovery phase, they will need immediate assistance to rebuild," Wolk said in a letter to Brown on Aug. 28. "As the Senator of the 3rd Senate District, I urge you to request Federal Disaster Assistance."
Vallejo, about 14 miles south of Napa, also suffered damages from the earthquake. The city has 10 buildings red-tagged and 100 yellow-tagged.
