Biden to Deliver Remarks Soon

President Joe Biden will soon deliver public remarks about his administration's efforts to support California residents following weeks of winter storms that caused damage throughout the state.

Biden will speak alongside California Governor Gavin Newsom, who accompanied Biden as the president surveyed storm-ravaged areas Thursday afternoon in the state's Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. Biden is expected to "reaffirm his commitment to supporting the people of California as they recover and rebuild from the impact of recent extreme weather across the state" at the Seacliff State Park in Aptos, according to the White House.

Biden is scheduled to begin speaking at 3 p.m. PST. His remarks will stream live on the White House's website, or watch below:

In the hour before his speech begins, Biden will visit with local residents and business owners in Santa Cruz County at the Capitola Pier, which suffered significant damages during the storms. Local officials said earlier this week that the Capitola Wharf could be shuttered for up to a year due to the extent of the necessary repairs.

Before his public remarks begin, Biden will also visit with first responders and local officials at the Seacliff State Park to identify the kinds of federal support that will be needed as recovery efforts continue, the White House said.

Harris to Discuss Flood, Drought Resiliency in LA County

Vice President Kamala Harris will highlight storm resiliency efforts in Southern California Friday, one day after President Biden's tour of storm damage along the Central Coast.

Harris's trip will focus on building resiliency to floods and droughts that have grown more severe in California over recent years.

She will visit Tujunga Spreading Grounds in Los Angeles County and "highlight ongoing efforts to increase drought and flood resilience," according to her Deputy Press Secretary Ernie Apreza.

"For too long, our nation has failed to address the climate crisis with the urgency it demands. Not anymore," she said in a tweet.

She added that the Biden administration is committed to investing in good paying union jobs, manufacturing, and infrastructure "to build a clean energy economy that will benefit all Americans."

Over $40M in Ag Damage Across Monterey County

Agricultural land in Monterey County suffered at least $40 million worth of damage due to flooding from the recent severe storms, according to preliminary estimates.

Initial estimates indicate the storms caused between $40 and $50 million in damage to the county's farmland, Monterey County Farm Bureau Executive Director Norm Groot told KSBW-TV. The bureau said about 25,000 acres of farmland flooded as a result of the latest storms.

However, damage is still being assessed and the real cost is likely "going to be higher" once final assessments are complete, Groot added.

Levees, irrigation lines and wellheads are among the items that will need to be fixed, Groot told the station earlier this week, urging Biden to add Monterey County to his California visit.

"We feed the nation, and we're a very important agricultural community for our country," Groot said. "And we'd really like him to understand all the impacts locally here, but also, more importantly, what we do for our country in providing food supplies for their dinner tables every night."

Monterey County is a major ag producer in the state, production values hit $4.1 billion in 2021, the most recent report.

The top crops in 2021 were strawberries, leaf lettuce, head lettuce and broccoli. It remains to be seen how the flooding will impact next year's crop and subsequent prices.

Biden Arrives in Hard-Hit Santa Cruz County

President Joe Biden and other state and federal officials touched down in Santa Cruz County after an aerial tour of recent storm damage.

According to California Senator Alex Padilla, who was also aboard Marine One for the tour, Biden and his delegation have arrived in Watsonville.

Biden will meet with impacted business owners and residents, as well as first responders and local and state officials.

He is expected to further survey the storm damage on the ground, discuss ongoing recovery efforts and assess what additional federal support is needed.

The president will visit Capitola, CA, one of the hardest-hit communities in recent weeks. Local businesses said the Capitola Wharf is expected to remain closed for a year. The wharf and it's row of businesses and restaurants is a popular tourist attraction.

"We are heartbroken for both the employees and customers," Capitola Boat and Bait, a business on the wharf, wrote in an Instagram post.

"We have received so many heart-warming messages from our customers, we appreciate all of you guys."

The wharf was severely damaged during the winter storms earlier this month, as chunks of the pier were destroyed during the "bomb cyclone"

More Counties Eligible for Federal Assistance

Before President Biden embarked on his trip to assess storm damage in California, he made changes to his California disaster declaration to help communities with recovery efforts.

Biden increased the level of federal funding for emergency protective measures undertaken by the state of California after severe storms began in December.

The amended disaster declaration increased the federal share of debris removal and emergency protective measures to 100 percent of total eligible costs for 60 days from the start of the incident period.

This is up from 75 percent of the total costs from the previous declaration on Jan. 14.

This amended declaration also provides federal assistance to more counties.

In addition to including Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz Counties under FEMA's Individual Assistance program on Jan 14, three more counties were including on Tuesday.

Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties will now also receive federal funding for individual aid, debris removal and emergency protective measures, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. San Joaquin has been approved only for individual assistance.

Two Earthquakes Strike the Central Coast

Two small earthquakes shook the Central Coast in San Benito County early Thursday, near the Monterey County line.

The first, a 3.6 magnitude earthquake, hit near Hollister just after 9 a.m, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The second was recorded near the same area as a 3.3 magnitude quake just before 11:30 a.m.

There have been no reports of damage or injury, but shaking was felt across the area, including in Salinas, Monterey and Morgan Hill, KPIX-TV reports.

While seemingly minor, the quakes follow a series of storms that hit the Central Coast over the last week.

Video Shows Governor Newsom Greet Biden

California Governor Gavin Newsom was spotted waiting for Air Force One to arrive in Santa Clara County shortly before noon on Thursday.

Newsom was standing on the tarmac and greeted President Joe Biden for his visit to survey storm-damaged areas.

California Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Anna Eshoo of California's 16th District also greeted Biden at Moffett Federal Airfield.

The White House previously said Biden would survey some of the weather damage by air for about 25 minutes before landing in Santa Cruz County.

FEMA Expects Hundreds of Millions Needed for Recovery

Ahead of Biden's trip to California, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell spoke to the press at a gaggle aboard Air Force One Thursday.

Criswell said California has experienced an "unprecedented" amount of storms over the past few weeks.

Since before the new year, Criswell said California experienced nine atmospheric rivers, which she describes as rivers in the sky that bring heavy rainfall.

The impacts of the heavy rain were exacerbated because of part of California have been experiencing extreme heat and drought. The dry ground could not absorb all of the rain, leading to flooding and downed trees.

More than 500 FEMA and other disaster relief personnel have been deployed to the state for response and recovery efforts, Criswell said.

The administrator was on the ground in Santa Cruz and Merced Counties last weekend to assess the damage. She said residents described the storm conditions as having "hurricane-strength winds" and "incredible storm surge-like conditions" on the shore. They said it felt as thought the communities were being "hit with hurricane after hurricane."

Criswell added that residents also faced fatigue amid the ongoing evacuation orders, saying some people were asked to leave their homes up to four times.

In Merced County, Criswell said there is significant long-term impacts to agricultural lands, as well as damage to homes, small businesses and schools.

State parks and tourism-related small business were also impacted in Santa Cruz County, she said, adding that she saw at least 500 impacted homes in the area.

It is too early to tell how much funding will be required for full recovery in these hard-hit areas, Criswell said, as crews still cannot access certain communities due to road closures.

But she estimates "several hundred million dollars" will be needed for repairs, but expects that number to actually end up being higher.

She added that at least 5,000 customers remain without power and several roadways remain closed

"There is a lot of trauma in these communities," she said, adding that the "full force of the federal family is behind" the impacted families and communities.

When asked if these types of storm conditions are the "new normal," Criswell said she has seen a "steady increase" in the number of disaster declarations and in the severity and intensity of storms in her two years leading FEMA.

She said funding from the bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill will allow communities to build up resilience to storms by "getting ahead" of events, anticipating future threats and putting necessary protection in place.

Biden Lands in Santa Clara County

President Joe Biden has arrived in California for his visit to tour areas impacted by the recent severe storms.

Biden was scheduled to land at 12:10 p.m. PST but arrived several minutes early.

Local reporters began sharing photos on social media shortly before noon localq time, showing Air Force One after it had arrived at Moffett Federal Airfield in Santa Clara County.

Over 600 Red Cross Workers Helping CA Residents

As President Biden arrives in California, recovery efforts are still underway following weeks of severe storms across the state.

More than 600 American Red Cross disaster workers are helping to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and emotional support to impacted residents.

The Red Cross and its partners have provided more than 8,000 shelter stays in 80 shelters, more than 41,600 meals and snacks, and distributed more than 9,700 relief items such as comfort kits and other relief supplies since New Year's Eve, the Red Cross said in a statement.

There are Red Cross shelters across California, including in San Benito, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, Merced, Monterey and Stanislaus Counties.

Biden to Meet Impacted Business Owners

President Joe Biden is expected to meet with California residents and business owners impacted by recent winter storms during his Thursday visit to the state.

Biden will be surveying some of the storm damage in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. He is expected to arrive soon.

The president is traveling with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. Biden will first visit Santa Clara County before taking a short helicopter ride to nearby Santa Cruz County to survey storm damage from the air.

Biden will later meet with state and local officials, residents, business owners and first responders to "survey recovery efforts and assess what additional Federal support is needed," the White House said. He is scheduled to address the public at 3 p.m. PST about his administration's support for Californians in the wake of the storms before flying back to the White House Thursday evening.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said at least 20 deaths have been linked to the spate of storms, which began in late December. Meanwhile, evacuations across the state have been widespread as thousands of people left their homes due to threats posed by the extreme weather.

Biden En Route to California

President Joe Biden is currently en route to California to survey storm damage after a string of strong storms slammed much of the state.

He departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late this morning on board Air Force One. He is set to arrive in Santa Clara County in about an hour and a half.

The storm packed heavy rain, snow and strong wind, leaving flooding and damage across several regions of the state. The Central Coast was among the hardest-hit areas.