Sonoma County thanks federal representatives for securing FEMA funding

Thanks to a successful lobbying effort from Sonoma County’s Congressional delegation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a $5.5 million reimbursement to the County for costs incurred during the January 2017 severe winter storms.

Sen. Alex Padilla and Sen. Adam Schiff as well as Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. Jared Huffman helped Sonoma County secure the funding for recovery efforts from the storms.

“I want to thank Senators Padilla and Schiff and Representatives Thompson and Huffman for helping us lobby FEMA for this essential funding,” said Supervisor Rebecca Hermosillo, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Sonoma County has experienced more than its fair share of costly natural disasters in the past decade. When these occur, we rely on our federal partners to help make us whole.”

Congressman Thompson, who advocated for the release of these funds from FEMA, said it is an important source of funding as the County recovers from multiple emergencies.

“FEMA reimbursements like this are critical for communities recovering from and preparing for natural disasters,” Rep. Thompson said. “We know that all too well in Sonoma County. I am glad that I was able to help secure this funding for Sonoma County so that we can continue with other critical disaster resiliency work.”

The 2017 winter storms included flooding and mudslides that damaged roads and other public infrastructure. Mudslides wiped out portions of Mill Creek Road west of Healdsburg and Hot Springs Road in Cloverdale. The County spent more than $7.3 million rebuilding roads, replacing culverts and repairing eroded embankments. The FEMA reimbursement covers 75 percent of this cost.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org 
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403