California Governor Gavin Newsom belatedly asked President Joe Biden for a federal disaster declaration on Thursday — two weeks after the storm arrived and several days after the snow had already stopped falling.
Newsom’s request was the latest delay in responding to storms that have killed at least a dozen people in mountain communities. He declared a state of emergency for 13 counties a week after the storm arrived.
Following that declaration last Wednesday, Newsom left the country for a personal trip in Baja California — an apparent vacation — while thousands remained trapped in their homes, short of food, fuel and medicine.
This past Wednesday, Newsom expanded the state of emergency to 21 counties. But he still had not asked President Biden for a disaster declaration — a step requested by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) the week before.
Republican candidate for California Governor Kevin Kiley speaks during a debate at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library Wednesday,…
