OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
March 22, 2020
The Honorable Donald
J. Trump
The President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D. C. 20500
Through: Robert
J. Fenton, Jr.
Regional Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IX
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, California 94607-4052
Dear Mr. President:
I would first like to thank you for issuing an Emergency Declaration on
March 13, 2020, and for the assistance of the federal government in response to
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the appropriations for
assistance to states and local governments and the guidance of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, I appreciate that you and
many of the members of your Coronavirus Task Force have been personally
available to me and my team, and that the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) has been assisting California in its fight against
the spread and impacts of COVID-19 in this state.
Pursuant to Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 5121-5207 (Stafford Act), and Title 44 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR) section 206.36, I respectfully request that you
declare a major disaster in the State of California as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic. Based on what we know already, COVID-19 is an unprecedented
global crisis and its impact in California is already severe and likely to worsen.
Therefore, due to the catastrophic nature of COVID-19, I request that you
expedite this declaration without the need to complete preliminary damage
assessments pursuant to 44 CFR section 206.33(d). On March 4, 2020, I proclaimed,
GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM• SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 • (916) 445-2841
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 2
under the California Emergency Services Act, a state of emergency in California,
and I have issued more than 10 Executive Orders, in just the past week, to further
facilitate and enhance California's ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
My Office of Emergency Services { Cal OES) activated our State Operations
Center on March 2, 2020, which advanced to its highest level {Level 1) on March
6, 2020, in support of the California Department of Public Health's (CDPH) Medical
and Health Coordination Center (MHCC). As well, Cal OES' Coastal Region,
Inland Region, and Southern Region Emergency Operations Centers, and
California's counties, municipalities, tribes, and special districts activated their
Emergency Operations Centers.
Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires truly extraordinary effort, which
California has undoubtedly undertaken. I activated the State Emergency Plan
and deployed all available assets, including local and state mutual aid. The State
of California, local governments, community-based organizations, and volunteers
have taken extraordinary steps to respond to this rapidly intensifying situation.
Nearly all of California's state agencies are involved in mitigating the impacts of
COVID-19, both in the field and in the State Operations Center, including but not
limited to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Emergency Medical
Services Authority (EMSA), California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA),
California Department of Education (CDE), California Department of Social
Services (CDSS), California Department of Developmental Services (CDSS),
California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), California Highway Patrol
(CHP), California Department of General Services (DGS), California Transportation
Commission (CTC), California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD), California Air National Guard (CANG), California's Office of
Surgeon General, and California Volunteers {CalVolunteers). In addition,
approximately 15 volunteer centers, as well as AmeriCorps and Local
Conservation Corps are engaged to help address the impacts to California as a
result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The MHCC is working tirelessly to disseminate critical information. To date, it has
fielded more than 3,480 inquiries from local health jurisdictions and healthcare
facilities and issued countless press releases to ensure the public is well-informed.
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 3
As of March 21, 2020, 22 California public health laboratories (PHL) are providing
diagnostic testing for COVID-19 using the CDC-developed Emergency Use
Authorization polymerase chain reaction assay; CDPH is working with the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to secure
resources from the Strategic National Stockpile; CANG is bolstering medical
capabilities at COVID-19 quarantine sites; EMSA continues to utilize contracts with
Medic Ambulance and AMR as needed to support the transport of individuals
who test positive for COVID-19 and need transportation from quarantine sites at
military bases, in addition to acquiring 810 ventilators to support the COVID-19
response; CHP provided transportation and security escort to quarantined
passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship to Travis Air Force Base, a hotel in
San Carlos (which the State promptly acquired as a quarantine site), and the
Oakland Airport; and OSG is working on publications regarding the unintended
consequences and stress of social distancing, how to talk to children about
coronavirus, and best practices for children and families during a crisis, as well as
coordinating opportunities with Sesame Street, PBS Kids, and Nickelodeon's
learning platform to incorporate content that talks about coronavirus, stress, and
how to stay healthy during this time.
Unfortunately, California has been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19.
Besides California being home to nearly 40 million people, which itself poses
significant logistical issues few other states face, California partnered with the
federal government in several extremely complex and challenging repatriation
missions, which strained California's resources and impacted California's
healthcare delivery system.
Day by day, COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in California. To date, approximately
25,200 tests have been conducted. This includes the latest numbers California has
received from commercial and private labs. At least 12,528 results have been
received and another 12,700+ are pending. As of today, we have 1,224 positive
cases and sadly 23 of California's residents have lost the fight against COVID-19.
Using federal guidance and direction, my Public Health Director and I have
implemented aggressive social distancing measures, including a "Stay-at-Home"
order, prohibiting - except for public health enumerated exceptions - all public
and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a household
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 4
or living unit. In an effort to mitigate the outbreak, K-12 schools throughout the
State closed, as did colleges and universities. Hospitals and health care facilities
are overwhelmed, even with having rescheduled elective surgeries. All large
gatherings have been cancelled, including sporting events, concerts and other
entertainment events, including the closure of theme parks such as Disneyland.
We take all these steps in hope of "flattening the curve" in California, though we
sadly expect our case count to continue to rise for several weeks.
California continues to adapt to this ongoing pandemic through policy
implementation, and providing assistance to the health care sector, first
responders, and general public. As the crisis advances, we continue to evaluate
and assess the existing impacts and anticipate impacts to come. Despite this, and
despite the Herculean efforts to rapidly expand the capacity of California's
healthcare delivery system, there will without a doubt be extraordinary additional
needs. It is clear additional resources are immediately necessary to adequately
respond to the unmet needs of the people and businesses of California.
This crisis is having wide-ranging impacts on families, communities, and in every
sector of California public and private life. The curtailment of consumer spending
resulting from public health directives to isolate at home has placed a
disproportionate burden on small businesses. As a result of the negative economic
impacts of the necessary mitigation measures being placed to protect the health
and safety of our people, businesses and their employees need assistance.
California's residents are under stay-at-home orders, causing stress and
uncertainty. Businesses are closed, except as needed to maintain continuity of
operations of critical infrastructure sectors. Many individuals are financially
insecure and are facing additional crises due to lost wages. Many children do not
have sufficient resources for home learning and are suffering the impact of social
isolation. Stress levels for adults and children are high; we expect acuity of mental
health conditions to rise, and substance use to increase. At the same time,
California's healthcare system is severely taxed, and the safety net system of
behavioral health providers is struggling to manage financially during this period
of low volume - fewer clients are seeking care (though demand will likely increase
as time goes on). We respectfully seek funding to respond to this emergency.
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 5
As an example, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits will provide
much needed financial assistance to all Californians who do not qualify for
regular state-funded Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. This group of
Californians includes business owners, the self-employed, and workers who have
not earned enough wages to qualify for regular UI benefits. The DUA benefits will
also help individuals who have collected all their regular UI benefits and who
could file a DUA claim to continue receiving the assistance needed to provide for
basic necessities, such as food and housing.
Hundreds of thousands of Californians are being directly affected by the COVID-
19 pandemic in ways we have never seen. Tens of thousands are losing their jobs,
many who were already living either below or just above the poverty line. Roughly
150,000+ Californians are experiencing homelessness, and California is actively
working to secure shelter and help slow the spread of COVID-19 within this
vulnerable population. This population will also require much needed case
management to assist in the transition and working through this very tough and
uncertain time. The Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) will provide
much needed relief in assisting with unmet needs and resources that only a well-
trained and experienced case manager can provide. Counties and local
nonprofits are already working well beyond their capacity to provide case
management to these individuals. We are at a point that if California does not
receive DCMP from our Federal partners many of these individuals will not be able
to recover.
A breakdown of Individual Assistance Program demographics is presented below:
Population
Average
Persons
Below
Poverty
Level**
of
Median
Household
Income
Percent
Elderly
(Over
yrs)*
65
Percent
Disabled
(Under
65
yrs)*
Percent
Pre-Disaster
Unemployment**
National
308,745,538
12.3% $55,322 16%
8.6%
4.0%
California***
37,253,956
13.3% $63,783 14.3%
6.8%
4.3%
* US Census Population Estimates July 1, 2018
** California Employment Development Department/Monthly Labor Force Data January 2020
***A
statewide county breakdown is available upon request.
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 6
In less than three short years, California has experienced a sequence of deadly
and devastating disasters - in fact, the largest, deadliest, and most destructive
wildfires in California history occurred since 2017. The financial impact of nine
Major Disaster Declarations since January 201 7 has put a tremendous strain on
the resources and people of California. When coupled with the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic, recovery
will be ongoing and difficult for survivors and
communities throughout California.
In July 2019, a series of very powerful earthquakes struck California, resulting in an
Emergency Declaration (FEMA-3415-EM). In February and March 2019, California
received two Major Disaster Declarations as a result of extreme storms, flooding,
landslides, and mudslides (FEMA-4431-DR and FEMA-4434-DR). Further, during
2019's wildfire season, 11 separate Fire Management Assistance Declarations
were warranted to the state of California. According to the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in Fiscal Year 2018-2019 alone,
$635 million was estimated in fire suppression expenditures.
In the summer of 2018, California received a Major Disaster Declaration for the
Carr Fire and Mendocino Complex Fire (FEMA-4382-DR), which remains the largest
fire in the history of California.
In December 2017, the Thomas Fire ignited in Santa Barbara and Ventura
counties. It was the then-largest wildfire in California's history and resulted in a Fire
Management Assistance Declaration (FEMA-5524-FM). Shortly thereafter, a
deadly mudslide engulfed the town of Montecito in Santa Barbara County. The
fires and mudslides caused unprecedented damage and destruction and
consequently, a Major Disaster Declaration was declared in California (FEMA-
4353-DR). The Thomas Fire and subsequent mudslides were preceded just months
before by another sequence of historically unprecedented wildfires, which also
resulted in a Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4344-DR). Further, between
January and February of 2017, California experienced multiple atmospheric river
systems, which brought with them extreme storms. These storms and subsequent
widespread destruction warranted three separate Major Disaster Declarations
(FEMA-4301-DR, FEMA-4305-DR, FEMA-4308-DR).
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 7
Now, while also actively recovering from the floods, wildfires, and earthquakes of
the last few years, COVID-19 is hitting California with an estimated attack rate of
56 percent, which further impacts California's capacity to deliver high quality
services that protect and serve millions of Californians. The financial burden
associated with California's response and recovery efforts resulting from the
COVID-19 pandemic will be extremely difficult given the already-grueling and
unprecedented series of disasters· within a short time period California has
endured.
Preliminary damage assessments are impossible to perform at this time due to the
dynamic nature of this pandemic, but cases continue to increase each day, and
ongoing life-saving response activities are overwhelming both State and local
resources. Further, conducting assessments at this time would jeopardize the
health and safety of our collective staffs. I have determined that this incident is of
such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of
the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal
assistance is necessary. I am specifically requesting Public Assistance Categories
A through G, and all Individual Assistance Programs for California's 58 counties
including, Individuals and Households Program, mass care and emergency
assistance, cns1s counseling, disaster case management, disaster
unemployment assistance, disaster legal services, and the Disaster
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Transitional Sheltering Assistance,
Hazard Mitigation statewide, and any other Stafford Act disaster assistance
programs that may be appropriate.
I certify for this major disaster the state and local governments will assume all
applicable non-federal shared costs as required by the Stafford Act. I have
designated the Director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services,
Mark Ghilarducci, as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. I further request
joint preliminary damage assessments be waived, in accordance with 44 CFR
section 206.33(d), since this incident is of unusual severity and magnitude and does
not require field damage assessments to determine the need for supplemental
Federal assistance under the Act.
Thank you for recognizing that without the additional resources requested,
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
March 22, 2020
Page 8
impacts will be felt throughout the nation, as well as around the world and thank
you for your concern and leadership during this difficult time in our state.
Gavin Newsom
Governor
Enclosures
Stafford Act and State Disaster Declarations in Previous 18 Months
California Federally Recognized Tribes
0MB No. 1660-0009/FEMA Form 010-0-13
